A leading Norfolk Tory has seconded a Liberal Democrat candidate in a council by-election.

Eastern Daily Press: Erika Coward, Liberal Democrat candidate for Snettissham ward Picture: Liberal Democrats.Erika Coward, Liberal Democrat candidate for Snettissham ward Picture: Liberal Democrats. (Image: Liberal Democrats)

Election papers show Lorne Green, the county's Conservative police and crime commissioner, has seconded Lib Dem Erika Coward in the election for West Norfolk council's Snettisham ward, which is taking place on Thursday.

Mr Green said he agreed to sign after being approached by a member of Mrs Coward's campaign team, who said she was struggling to obtain enough signatures to confirm her nomination.

'I support democracy and I was happy to sign it,' he said. 'I'm fully supportive of anyone who wants to run for any party, that's democracy, but I did it on the basis I don't support the Liberal Democrats.

'There's no question where my affiliation lays and I was quite clear about it. I did it to support the democratic process, not the Liberal Democrat Party.' Mrs Coward's agent Josie Ratcliffe said: 'We collected the signatures from residents in the normal way and he was happy to support Erika going on the list as a candidate.

'It's about the local democratic process. There's nothing behind it other than he's a local resident and he was in the area when we were collecting signatures.'

Mr Green said he had been out campaigning on behalf of Conservative candidate Stuart Dark with North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham.

Mr Dark is currently visiting First World War graves in France and Belgium as part of a village remembrance project.