ONE of Worcester’s best known politicians has blamed the UK Independence Party for his election defeat - and claims he would otherwise have won.

Councillor Allah Ditta said UKIP wrecked his chances of keeping hold of the Rainbow Hill division in last Friday’s Worcestershire County Council count.

The veteran got 595 votes, only for Labour Councillor Paul Denham to bring in 973 after weeks of hard-fought campaigning.

UKIP activist Carl Humphries, one of Nigel Farage’s main organisers in Worcestershire, got 414 votes.

Coun Ditta, who remains a city councillor, said: “I’d have been over the moon if I’d have won, but thanks to UKIP it did not happen for me.

“I thought my own vote would hold up ok but what I didn’t expect was a UKIP candidate, maybe that was an error on my part.

“I am obviously disappointed by the result and would like to thank the people who did come out and vote for me.

“Overall, UKIP was what did it for me - it was a protest vote against the Government.”

He has refused to blame last year’s furore in which he was secretly recorded threatening to dig up a dead man’s body during a row with a grieving family.

In August last year he was pictured on the front of your Worcester News after threatening the family of Monuhor Ali, who died last June aged 74.

The dispute was sparked after he asked them for £400 for voluntary work he said he did on the grave, which is at Perdiswell’s private Muslim cemetery.

“I am always up for the challenge and don’t shy away from anything,” he said.

Coun Denham, who is also deputy leader of Worcester’s Labour group, said he was “very pleased” with the result.

“I hope I can make a positive difference in Rainbow Hill, that is what I entered politics for,” he said.

Mr Humphries, who runs the UKIP branches in Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire, said he was “delighted” with the response on the doorsteps.

UKIP won four seats in Worcestershire, making an historic breakthrough at County Hall.

Labour fared even better, claiming eight seats to take the party's total to 12, with the Tories losing 10 overall to take it down to 30.

West Mercia Police decided to take no action over Coun Ditta’s graveyard incident.

Complaints from the family to Worcester Conservative Association were rejected on the basis his grave work is done on a private, voluntary basis, and is not related to official council duties.

Coun Ditta is up for election at Worcester City Council in 2015 - and says he intends to put himself forward for re-election.