Labour's parliamentary candidate for Dartford has stood down.

Daisy Page, deputy leader of Dartford Labour and a borough councillor for Littlebrook ward, has cited 'personal reasons' for her decision to withdraw from the race, less than a week after her candidacy was announced.

She has been replaced by Dr Bachchu Kaini, a borough councillor for Joyce Green ward, who now has less than five weeks to win over voters before the general election on June 8.

The NHS doctor, who works at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, said: "Dartford deserves better from the government and from our member of parliament.

"Issues such as congestion, air quality, better transport links, the town centre, local health and social care and gone unaddressed by the Conservatives for too long.

"Dartford deserves an alternative. An alternative to austerity and an alternative to the funding cuts we’ve seen in our NHS and education system. I want to work for a better Dartford and ensure we all reach our full potential."

He continued: "As MP, I will always stand up for Dartford and make sure it’s the voice of local people that is heard in Westminster.

"Over the last two years as a councillor, I’ve been proud to represent local people. I know that people in Dartford need a Labour government. That’s why I look forward to working with everyone in the community to win this election for Labour and for Dartford.”

Dr Kaini will be up against Conservative Gareth Johnson, who won in 2015 and 2010, Simon Beard for the Liberal Democrats, Andy Blatchford for the Greens, and Ukip's Ben Fryer.

Dartford is the country's longest running bellwether seat - it's swung according to the national outcome for 14 general elections in a row - and Mr Johnson secured a majority of more than 12,000 votes last time out.

Last weekend Cllr Page had expressed her pride at being selected by tweeting: "Delighted to be selected as @Dartford_Labour @UKLabour parliamentary candidate! #Dartford is my home and I will continue to stand up for my home."

Dartford Labour leader Cllr Jonathon Hawkes did not offer further detail on why Cllr Page had pulled out, and she was unavailable for comment.

Responding to the news, Mr Johnson said: "This is very puzzling but frankly it doesn't change much.

"The Labour Party replacing one Jeremy Corbyn supporter with another still means voting locally for Labour could lead to him becoming our Prime Minister.

"People in Dartford have a clear choice on June 8 and increasingly people are telling us how they fear for the future of our town and our country if Jeremy Corbyn were to become Prime Minister."

The change in candidate comes just a day after a bruising outcome for Dartford Labour at the Kent County Council (KCC) election count, with the party losing their only seat in the borough to the Conservatives.

Dartford North East was seen as a safe seat for Tom Maddison, who won it for Labour in 2013, but he was beaten by David Butler with 42% of the vote.

Cllr Maddison continues to represent some of the area - Littlebrook ward - as a Dartford borough councillor, alongside Cllr Page, who he said had supported his KCC campaign.

The Conservatives also won in Dartford West (Jan Ozog), Dartford Rural (Jeremy Kite), Dartford East (Penny Cole), and Wilmington (Ann Allen), with Peter Harman preventing a clean sweep by retaining Swanscombe and Greenhithe for the local residents association.

Overall Labour won five seats at KCC following Thursday's vote, with the Liberal Democrats emerging as the official opposition to the Conservatives, albeit with just six seats.

For full reaction, pick up Thursday's Dartford Messenger.