North Norfolk's UKIP candidate is a businessman who hopes his strong local roots will win over voters.District councillor Michael Baker, managing director of up-market department store Bakers and Larners of Holt, is keen to stress he is a north Norfolk boy through and through.

North Norfolk's UKIP candidate is a businessman who hopes his strong local roots will win over voters.

District councillor Michael Baker, managing director of up-market department store Bakers and Larners of Holt, is keen to stress he is a north Norfolk boy through and through.

Born in Cromer Hospital 63 years ago, he was educated at Sutherland House and Gresham's before heading out of the county for university.

Seven years later, after a few years in his first job, he returned to Norfolk and has been building a strong profile in the Holt area ever since.

The father-of-two, who employs 235 people in the town, said he knew that local connection would play a big part in his performance in the election.

As a result, in his first foray into national politics - Mr Baker has been involved with the district council for 17 years - the UKIP candidate is aiming high.

While many candidates from the smaller parties may be content to concentrate on getting 5pc of the vote in order to get their deposits back, he is hoping to be a thorn in the side of the Lib Dems and Tories, who see the north Norfolk seat as a two-horse race.

Mr Baker's short-term plan for this election is to force his way in between the front runners in order to put himself in a strong position for the next election.

And he believes the keys election issues which will help him do that will be the rebuilding of Cromer Hospital, coastal erosion and more affordable housing.