Norfolk's longest-serving MP is facing a fight for his political future after Conservative members signalled they did not want him to stand at the next general election.

Concerns over South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon's "visibility" are understood to have prompted members of the local Conservative Association to inform him they did not want him to attempt to retain the seat he has held since 2001.

Their decision was made at a selection committee meeting on Friday, but it is not yet clear whether Mr Bacon will challenge the decision.

If he does, that could trigger a vote of all South Norfolk Conservative members.

Mr Bacon and the South Norfolk Conservation Association have been approached for comment.

Last year, Mr Bacon responded to criticism from voters that he had gone "missing" from his constituency duties, insisting he was "doing his best to make himself available".

Posters were placed around his South Norfolk constituency, accusing him of adopting a low local profile and declaring him "missing". The posters asked: "Has anybody seen Richard lately?"

Mr Bacon said at that time: "I have to point out we have gone through a pandemic, it has not been easy to be around, it has not been easy to do constituency surgeries and most places I would normally visit, like schools, have either been closed or under huge restrictions.

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"The worst thing for many MPs is not being able to be out and about as much as they have always liked to be among their residents, talking to them."

Mr Bacon, who has won six elections, is a former chair of the government's Public Accounts Committee.

He has recently been campaigning over National Grid's East Anglia Green plans, which would see pylons built across parts of South Norfolk.