The Brexit Party has announced its first two candidates for the region as it prepares to contest every seat should an early general election be called.

Candidates for Great Yarmouth and Waveney have been named as the Brexit Party unveiled its first 50 potential MPs.

Borough councillor and co-founder of Great Yarmouth's Tribune Party Adrian Myers is running in Great Yarmouth while Brexit Party MEP for the South East Robert Rowland is running in Waveney.

Mr Myers previously a Ukip member, was elected as an Independent councillor for the Lothingland ward in May.

In February this year the self-styled "non-political" Tribune Party ceased to exist due to a lack of interest.

The founder of anti-Europe campaign group Leave.EU Arron Banks previously claimed he would stand for the party in Great Yarmouth, but at the time the Brexit Party said this was "completely untrue" and that has now been confirmed.

Born in Bowdon, in Greater Manchester, Mr Rowland was elected to the European Parliament earlier this year, where he serves on the committee on economic and monetary affairs.

Mr Rowland said: "My commitment to the people of Waveney is to deliver a clean, WTO Brexit that would mean the UK gets out of the iniquitous and unfair Common Fisheries Policy, and ensures towns like Lowestoft once again regain full sovereign rights over 200 miles of water.

"The Brexit Party is committed to end the absurd situation where 80pc of our fish are caught by other European nations.

"I intend to put Waveney back on the map as the crown jewel of Britain's coastal fishing communities.

"The two major parties have neglected local issues, none more so then in our fishing communities.

"It is time to restore trust in politics and our democracy which is why I will be fully accountable for every pledge I make to the people of Waveney."

Last month, he praised fellow Brexit Party MEP June Mummery, from Lowestoft, following her first fisheries committee meeting. On Twitter, he said: "We are behind all our fishermen and the restoration of sovereignty over our waters. 200 miles of exclusion zone with any foreign fishing vessel given the same treatment as the Belgrano! Well done June. We are 110pc behind you and will ensure you give 'em hell on committee."

The comments attracted criticism, however, with North West MEP Chris Davies slamming the reference to the sinking of the General Belgrano, which resulted in the deaths of 323 Argentinian sailors in 1982.

He said: "No doubt the Brexit Party will argue their new MEP never really meant that European fishermen should be murdered, but those words were sickening, and words matter.

"Words can bring people together and calm situations, or they can inflame and create hatred."

Following the criticism, Mr Rowland told The Guardian: "It was a tongue-in-cheek comment."

If a general election is called, the party is preparing to run for all 650 seats across the country and will announce more candidates in the coming days.

Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage, said: "With Boris Johnson already watering down Brexit, and looking to bounce the country into an early general election, trust is now the key issue in British politics.

"Our great candidates will not stand for Mrs May's treaty being repackaged, it is still the worst deal in history and a betrayal of leave voters."