UKIP leader Nigel Farage is heading to Worcester - in an attempt to urge voters to get behind a 'Brexit'.

With the EU referendum campaign hotting up, one of British politics' most recognisable faces has decided to do a public Q&A.

Mr Farage told the Worcester News his visit, this Thursday, is about wrestling "back control of our democracy and our borders" by urging voters to support the 'leave' side on June 23.

It will be Mr Farage's first publicised visit to Worcester since his 'Common Sense Tour' three years ago, when he addressed a packed crowd in the Guildhall.

Mr Farage, who will be answering questions at Worcestershire County Cricket Club's New Road ground, also said he was hoping it gives his party a polling boost ahead of the May elections.

He said: "By electing UKIP representatives across the country (the public) will be helping build the momentum for a critical 'Brexit' vote on June 23, so we can get back control of our democracy and our borders.

"I look forward to meeting a lot of people at New Road on Thursday."

Mr Farage's visit announcement comes after a prominent politician and former lecturer from Worcester was chosen to chair the official campaign to persuade British voters to quit the EU.

Gisela Stewart, now a Labour MP in Birmingham, was announced as the official fronter of 'Vote Leave' earlier this month, the official anti-EU campaign recognised by the Electoral Commission.

Mrs Stewart, who was born and schooled in Germany, moved to the UK and worked at the old Worcester College of Technology as a law lecturer from 1992 to 1997.

Well-known in Labour circles locally, she actually contested the old Worcester and South Warwickshire seat at the 1994 European elections, before winning her current seat in Birmingham in 1997.

She will now be leading to 'out' campaign, which also involves top Tories such as London mayor Boris Johnson, Justice Secretary Michael Gove and former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.

She said: "The rules of engagement with the EU have changed dramatically since we agreed to join in 1975 and bear no resemblance to the agreement we signed up to."

Yesterday Home Secretary Theresa May made her first intervention into the debate by saying Britain would be "less safe" if we quit the EU.

* Mr Farage's Q&A will get underway from 6.30pm on Thursday and tickets to get in cost £5 by emailing Peter.jewell@westmerciapcccampaign.com.

The organisers are also hosting a dinner afterwards at £50 per person for any audience members interested in eating, with more details available via that email address.