YORK could see a surge in support for the Green Party in the upcoming elections as voters look for an alternative to the three biggest parties, the national leader of the party has said.

Natalie Bennett was in York yesterday to meet rail union officials, talk about youth services, and speak to young activists at the University of York's Green Party group.

She said the upcoming General Election, which coincides with York's city council elections, could see a major rewriting of politics in the country and cities like York could see support for her party's "positive alternative" grow.

The meeting with rail union officials gave Ms Bennett and local party activists chance to discuss concerns about the East Coast rail franchise going back into private hands, and proposals to make some TransPennine and Northern Rail services through York "driver only" with no conductor, and the Green Party's opposition to HS2.

Ms Bennett said: "What we need are much better East-West links, and networks within regions rather than links to London, to help local economies grow."

She also spoke of constituencies in Bristol and Norwich where her party has strong support, and Liverpool where the Greens are the official opposition on the city council, and said York too could see the party could do well.

She said: "Politics in the future is not going to be like the past - we could see it break wide open."

National polling figures have shown as many as seven per cent intending to vote Green in the general election - higher than the party has ever seen before, she added.

And although UKIP's polling figures are regularly double that figure, she said her party offered a "positive alternative" to the three "business as usual parties".

Ms Bennett said: "We are attracting a lot of votes from former Liberal Democrats and Labour voters, and even Conservative voters concerned about things like the greenbelt and fracking."

The visit also saw the Green party candidates for both York constituencies in next year's general election unveiled. Former national chairman Jonathan Tyler will stand in the York Central constituency, while long term activist Ginnie Shaw will stand in York Outer.