THE UK Independence Party has finally revealed its Worcester candidate for next year's General Election - a move which could make or break Tory and Labour dreams.

James Goad, a heritage expert who is well known across Worcester having stood in the last three city council elections, has bagged the role.

Although Mr Goad is extremely unlikely to win the seat, his presence on the ballot could be decisive in influencing whether Tory MP Robin Walker keeps hold of Worcester or loses to Labour's Joy Squires.

UKIP stunned many city politicians earlier this year by coming second in eight of the 11 council seats it contested, narrowly missing out on winning wards like Gorse Hill and Warndon.

The party was runner-up in Bedwardine, Gorse Hill, Rainbow Hill, St John's, St Peter's, Warndon Parish North, Warndon Parish South and in Warndon, where Mr Goad was in second place just 40 votes behind Labour.

Mr Goad, who lives in Ullswater Close, Worcester, also stood in 2013 in Gorse Hill and 2012 in St Clement.

The 42-year-old was selected following a hustings event last Thursday and told your Worcester News he aims to campaign early.

He says resisting housing development, lobbying for the Northern Link Road and immigration will be among his key themes.

"Open-door immigration from the EU has led to wage compression and a bias against non-EU immigrants," he said.

"We are being forced to concrete over much of our green belt to make way for housing, partly driven by the ever-increasing migrant population.

"The South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) is an example.

"Local communities need to set their own housing and development agendas, not be dictated to by central Government.

"In the meantime, UKIP intend to enhance the incentives for developing brown field land.

"Worcester needs a Northern Link Road to complete the circuit around the city and alleviate the appalling rush hour congestion - roads would be maintained to a much higher standard."

Mr Walker will defend a majority of 2,982, and a swing of just three per cent would be required for Labour Councillor Joy Squires to take it.

Polling from Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft suggests Labour will win the seat, which is likely to be must if Ed Miliband is to become Prime Minister.

The other confirmed candidate so far is Louis Stephen, a well-known activist who chairs Worcester Green Party and has stood for council himself.