UKIP'S candidates for both the York Central and York Outer Parliamentary seats have told why they are both also standing for City of York Council.

York Central's candidate Ken Guest said he was also fighting for a council seat at Heworth, while York Outer candidate Paul Abbott said he was also aiming to win election for the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward.

They spoke out after Liberal Democrat Nick Love claimed yesterday he was the only politician standing for both council and Parliament.

They said they agreed with Nick that if they were on the council as well as sitting as MPs, they would have a much better understanding of local issues.

Mr Abbott said there were also key issues that were influenced by both the council and the Government - for example, York's Local Plan and plans to build in the Green Belt - and it would help to be both on the council and at Westminster.

He said that as a member of a conservation trust, he was concerned about the impact on Askham Bog of proposed major housing development in Moor Lane.

He also wanted local people to have much more say on the Local Plan after years of being 'ignored' by the Labour council.