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First published in News Last updated Exclusive by Joe Willis, Regional Chief Reporter

THE Liberal Democrat candidate to replace William Hague as MP for Richmond has withdrawn from the contest accusing local party members of failing to back him.

Chris Foote-Wood said the Richmond Liberal Democrat Association had not provided "any practical help or support whatsoever", adding that he had been left to fight the election campaign on his own.

The 74-year-old said the only assistance he was given was the publication of an election address to be delivered to every house in the constituency.

However, he said the final straw came when senior party members decided to appoint someone from Leeds to write the message on his behalf.

Mr Foote-Wood, who has stood as a candidate for Westminster on eight previous occasions, has criticised three senior association officials who he accused of being behind the party's lack of support.

The candidate said association chair Caroline Seymour, as well as senior association members John Harris and Richard Good had made "distasteful and derogatory" remarks to him.

The candidate added: "I realised that the association was not capable of mounting a sustained election campaign and I was quite prepared to do most of the work myself, but I was not prepared to be treated the way I have - the association has done absolutely nothing.

"To find three senior members criticising me has been totally demoralising and I'm not going to put up with it - it's an impossible situation."

Mr Foote-Wood added: "They are arrogant people. They think I will do nothing for eight months, they can criticise me and I will dance to their tune - well I won't.

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Liberal Democrat election candidate resigns over 'lack of help' from party