GREEN campaigners hit the streets in Clacton to launch their election campaign.

General Election candidate Chris Southall was joined by members of the Tendring Green Party to hand out leaflets in the town centre on Saturday.

The 71-year-old former engineer, who runs an eco-home in Clacton, said the party lacked the funding to fight a snap election in the same manner as the major parties.

Mr Southall said: “Our local party does not have the money that the larger parties have to print glossy leaflets for every elector, but we do have willing volunteers happy to help.

“We are concentrating on social media for our campaign and hope people will download our election leaflet from the Tendring Green Party Facebook page.”

Mr Southall will be standing for election in Clacton for the fourth time and is hoping to again increase his party’s popularity.

He increased the Green’s number of votes from 535 in the 2010 General Election to 1,184 votes in 2015.

Also standing for the Clacton seat at the General Election are: David Grace (Lib Dem), Nick Martin (Ind), Paul Oakley (Ukip), Natasha Osben (Lab), Caroline Shearer (Ind), Robin Tilbrook (English Democrats) and Giles Watling (Con).