Far-right group Britain First will be standing for election in part of Kent for the first time.

The political group's leader Paul Golding is one of two candidates who have started campaigning in Dartford for the upcoming local elections.

A video shared by the group shows members of the party dishing out leaflets in the town.

The party's policies include deporting all illegal immigrants with "no exceptions", introducing a national referendum on the restoration of capital punishment for paedophiles, terrorists and murderers, and rejecting all asylum seekers and deporting all foreign-born criminals.

Speaking about his campaigning, Mr Golding said: "We're in Dartford borough, just on the outskirts of Greater London. We're launching my campaign for the local elections.

"This is the first I've stood for election since 2016 when I stood for mayor of London against Sadiq Khan.

"We're launching my campaign in our target ward today and it's going really well. We've leafleted about a third of the ward so far and we're going to carry on."

Nick Scanlon is also standing in part of Dartford for the party.

In the two-minute clip, the candidate said: "We've got a big team out this morning and it's going well.

"The ward is a bit smaller than last year so we've already got a bit of an advantage."

Mr Scanlon says they started campaigning earlier than last time round to gain the edge with "five hard months ahead".

Local elections are scheduled to take place on May 4.

News the group is eyeing up a seat on the council didn't go down well with many.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson slammed members for spreading "hatred and division".

He said: "While they have a democratic right to stand at the elections, this group do not represent the values of Dartfordians.

"They spread nothing but hatred and division and are not welcome in this town.

"We have good race and inter faith relations in Dartford and we will not allow this group to stop this."

Borough councillor Kelly Grehan (Lab) said: "I spend my time talking to those I represent so I know Dartfordians seek to welcome and celebrate those from all backgrounds and faiths, and I am sure Britain First will find little sympathy for their views here.

"Indeed, to quote Labour MP Jo Cox, people here have more in common, than that which divides us.

"Britain First may like to pretend they are a political party but in reality they are a far-right group.

"The idea anyone would want to run for office by creating division is abhorrent to most people. We see the role of a ward councillor as being to represent all residents and not to harass and intimidate those who live here."

The group has hit the headlines in Kent on a number of occasions.

In 2019, members were pelted with rocks after confronting migrants in Calais.

Five years earlier, they clashed with anti-fascist protesters in Rochester when Jayda Fransen was running in the Rochester and Strood parliamentary by-election.

In 2018, Dartford council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite slammed the group after members posted an "undignified and disrespectful" video of leader Paul Golding laying a wreath at the town's war memorial.

At the time, the Tory said: "I think there’s something undignified and disrespectful about turning commemoration into a political propaganda video and I am not sure how it could sit with any decent person’s conscience."