Ukip will announce a new leader later today and the job could fall to a Kent-based candidate.

Henry Bolton is one of seven names in the frame to take over from Paul Nuttall, who quit the job after the June election.

The former soldier and police officer is considered to be a front-runner in the contest and has seen the odds on him winning fall dramatically in recent weeks.

Mr Bolton, now an international security expert, stood as the Ukip candidate in the election for the Kent crime commissioner in 2016.

He has been endorsed by several Ukip MEPs and the former party leader Nigel Farage acted as his referee.

He is seen as being on the moderate wing of the party in a campaign which was dominated by the presence of Anne Marie Waters, director of Sharia Watch UK and anti-Islam candidate.

The result of the election will be announced today at the party’s conference, which is being held in Torquay.

Kent's reputation as a Ukip stronghold has taken a battering in elections, with the party losing every one of its county councillors in May and then performing poorly at the general election, losing ground to Labour.