The Liberal Democrats have yet to find any candidates to stand in Ashford at the council election in May, it has emerged.

With just months to go before polling day, the party locally is in crisis and struggling to find anyone willing to put their name forward.

Cllr Bob Davidson, one of two Lib Dems on Ashford Borough Council, is standing down after 24 years and revealed he was himself resigning from the party in protest at its role in the coalition.

Mr Davidson, a former Mayor who represents North Willesborough ward, said he was disappointed and angry that no-one had been found to stand and blamed the party’s role in the coalition government for the lack of interest.

It was highly unusual for any party not to have recruited election candidates so close to polling day, he added.

“We have no candidates so far. Is that unusual? I would say that it is. It is a difficult time for the party because of what has happened at a national level. I am leaving the party after 24 years and I am quite sad about it,” he said.

Party members were unhappy that the Liberal Democrats, led by deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, had betrayed their principles as part of the coalition, he added.

In 2011, the Liberal Democrats lost six seats in Ashford and saw a 17% drop in their vote, leaving just Cllr Davidson and his colleague Cllr Jeremy Adby on the council.

The party’s poor performance then was attributed to its involvement in the coalition.

Cllr Davidson said that remained a problem for many members. “It is the party nationally. They have been losing lots and lots of members because they are not abiding by Liberal Democrat principles.”

The election will see 43 councillors elected across 35 wards covering Ashford borough.

The party’s troubles with candidates in Ashford has been compounded by the fact that it has lost its election agent through illness and has not yet been replaced.

In 2011, the Liberal Democrats lost wards to independent candidates as well as Labour and the Conservatives.

The party has yet to appoint a prospective parliamentary candidate too. Chris Took, who fought the seat in 2010 but has been appointed candidate in Woking.