GREENS have been left red-faced after a would-be councillor admitted she won't be voting for her own party in the General Election as it "will not win".

Wendy Hands believes that Green parliamentary hopeful Malcolm Victory will be 'Malcolm Defeat' on May 5 and is voting Tory instead.

She has been criticised by Mr Victory for not backing a fellow 'comrade' while Sir Michael Spicer, his Tory opponent in West Worcestershire, welcomed her support.

"While I would like to support a Green candidate I don't believe they will win," said Mrs Hands, who wants to represent her home town of Upton-upon-Severn at County Hall.

"It is a damage limitation approach because my main interest in General Election candidates is what they will do on Europe.

"If I vote for a party like the Greens or UKIP, like I did before, it will split the vote and let the Liberal Democrat candidate become MP."

Mrs Hands said anyone considering voting for her at the elections would be getting a councillor who is a Green conservative 'with a small c'.

Mr Victory said: "I know Mrs Hands is a sympathetic Green who has volunteered to stand for the party, but to do this with an election coming up is not what you would expect of a comrade.

"A vote for a Green is not wasted. It is a vote for your own conscience and a vote for the future."

Sir Michael, a Euro-sceptic who faces a close battle against Liberal Democrat Tom Wells, said: "Although I think the Greens are taking a sensible approach on Europe, the chances of them forming a government are pretty remote.

"If you do want to say 'Enough is enough' and return powers to this country, you have to vote Conservative."