by political editor Paul Francis

A lawyer who ousted the leader of Tunbridge Wells council from his seat is to stand as the UKIP candidate in the election for Kent's first police commissioner.

Piers Wauchope made headlines in May when he pulled off an electoral coup by winning the ward that had been held by former council leader Bob Atwood.

Mr Wauchope now hopes to repeat his success in the forthcoming election to become Kent's directly elected police commissioner.

His entry into the race brings to nine the number of candidates vying for the £85,000 a year role.

Before joining UKIP, Mr Wauchope, who was not available for comment, had represented the Conservative party as a councillor in Camden.

By coincidence, the Conservative party candidate Craig Mackinlay had been a leading figure in UKIP before defecting.

Meanwhile, the former independent MP and journalist Martin Bell has leant his support to the former Kent Police Authority chairman Ann Barnes.

Mr Bell was MP for Tatton between 1997 and 2001. He joined Mrs Barnes in a walkabout in Rochester where he outlined his concerns that voter apathy would lead to a poor turnout.

The election for the police commissioner - which will take the place of appointed police authorities - is on November 15.