MALVERN vet Richard Chamings has been selected to fight the Worcester seat at the next General Election for the UK Independence Party.

Mr Chamings, of Storridge, is chairman of the UKIP West Midlands branch and contested the Leominster seat retained by Peter Temple-Morris in 1997.

He also appeared on the party's list for the Euro Elections last year and has campaigned for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

"Only three years ago coming out of the EU was thought to be an extreme view," he said. "The mood of the country has now changed and the majority of people are behind us.

"We pay over one million pounds to Brussels every hour of every day for nothing in return except being told what to do.

"That money would be better spent at home on health, pensions and crime prevention."

At the last election the Worcester seat was captured for Labour by Mike Foster.

Mr Chamings said he was happy to see trade with Europe but not political union, adding that although Britain was outside the European Single Currency it is "steadily going down the path" to a European superstate.

"We've already lost control of our fishing, our farming, the power of our courts, 80 per cent of our legislation comes from Brussels and we are all European citizens," he said.

He added that proposals contained in the Treaty of Nice, which will be discussed next week, take the process still further.

The party has already selected Ian Morris to fight the West Worcestershire seat held by Conservative Sir Michael Spicer.