Tory candidate Richard Bacon has called on voters to judge him on his record as South Norfolk MP for the last nine years when they go to the polling stations on May 6.

Tory candidate Richard Bacon has called on voters to judge him on his record as South Norfolk MP for the last nine years when they go to the polling stations on May 6.

The 47-year-old was one of the few MPs who did not have to pay back any money following last year's expenses scandal.

But the father-of-two accepts that the reputation of all members of parliament has been tarnished following last year's unsavoury headlines.

Mr Bacon won by an 8,782 majority at the 2005 general election and will be looking to strengthen his position, despite the reduction in the size of the constituency.

The politician was voted as backbencher of the year by his fellow MPs in 2006 and has been campaigning for better food labelling, improved broadband in the district and a Long Stratton bypass.

Mr Bacon said he was relishing canvassing for votes over the more than 300 square mile constituency over the next few weeks.

'I am fighting the election on my record as a local MP and I want people to know that I am an MP that works hard on behalf of all people and stands up for Norfolk.'

'I was one of the first MPs to publish my expenses online and I did my best to operate a bad system. Of course everyone is tarnished and you cannot be surprised by the general level of public anger, but it has not been mentioned much on the doorstep,' he said.

Mr Bacon said he was anticipating a high turnout of voters on May 6 because it was looking a close run competition between Gordon Brown and David Cameron for the race for 10 Downing Street.

'I think people will be pleasantly surprised by the turnout. It is a choice between five more years of Gordon Brown or making a fresh start.'

The turnout in South Norfolk in 2005 was 68pc.

'Of course you want as many people to support you as you can. I do not have a target number of voters or target percentage. I would like everyone to look at what I've done and my record and if they like it to give me another chance,' added Mr Bacon