Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has urged supporters of other parties to rally behind its candidate in Maidstone and The Weald to oust Conservative Helen Grant.

The call came as the party released details of its own private polling that suggested that they were within four points of the Conservatives who held the seat in 2010 but with its majority more than halved.

Mr Clegg was on a visit to the Maidstone campus of Mid Kent College.

He said: "Anyone who believes in having a hard working dedicated local MP - unlike the existing MP Helen Grant should vote for Jasper Gerard."

He added: "I hope people of all political persuasions will really rally behind us."

Asked if that represented an explicit appeal to supporters of other parties to vote tactically he said: "It is a yes to anyone who wants a great local MP to get behind Jasper."

Video: Reporter Graham Stothard meets Nick Clegg and candidate Jasper Gerard

Helen Grant succeeded Ann Widdecombe in 2010, though the Lib Dems made a huge dent to the 14,856 majority held by the former MP. However, the party fell short of Mrs Grant by a little under 6,000 votes.

Bookmakers have priced the Liberal Democrats at 3 to 1 to take the seat.

However, a special opinion poll of Kent commissioned by the KM Group indicated that the party's rating since 2010 had dropped by 12 points to just 6%.

Mr Clegg also used the visit to highlight the party's track record on apprenticeships.

The party leader was due to hold a question and answer session with apprentices and their employers, alongside candidate Jasper Gerard.

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