UKIP has announced its candidate to represent the Burnham and Highbridge area in the General Election this May.

Helen Hims, currently local party chairman and regional representative, was last week selected to stand as the party’s candidate for Wells constituency, which includes Burnham and Highbridge, following the resignation of previous candidate Jeff Bolter due to a family illness.

Mrs Hims, who has lived in the Wells constituency for more than 20 years and runs a family business with her husband in Shipham, said she wants to offer constituents something “new and different.”

Mrs Hims will battle it out for the seat with Lib Dem Tessa Munt MP, Chris Hinchley of the Labour party, Conservative James Heappey, Jon Cousins of the Green Party and local singer and entertainer Gypsy Watkins, standing as an Independent candidate.