A former Kent county councillor who quit after being exposed as having been a member of an openly-fascist group is to fight to get his seat back.

Tory representative Andy Weatherhead stood down last November after losing the Conservative whip, following the publication of photographs of him wearing a black shirt at a rally organised by the New British Union (NBU).

His shirt displayed the lightning insignia formerly associated with Oswald Moseley's black shirt movement, the Union of Fascists, during the 1930s.

Another picture reportedly showed Mr Weatherhead at the NBU’s inaugural conference in October 2013.

The photographs were released by the anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate.

Mr Weatherhead said his links to the far-right NBU "were made in the spirit of education and curiosity", but gave up his Hythe West seat.

Mr Weatherhead of St Mary's Bay, Romney Marsh, said: "I had been elected as Conservative, so once the party suspended me, it was right for me to resign, as I no longer had a mandate - people had elected me as a Conservative."

But Mr Weatherhead, who had apologised at the time for his previous political associations, said it was time to stand again - as an independent.

He said: "I was associated with that group for about eight months - I was not even a member of anything, there was no formal membership."

He said: "It was a stupid mistake which I deeply regret, but I am not going to let eight months define my whole life."

Mr Weatherhead, 59, said: "I think I did a pretty decent job as a councillor and I would like a chance to do it again."

He had been a councillor for 18 months before his resignation and had also served on his local parish council.

He said: "I completely agree that the optic of those pictures was poor and potentially upsetting for some.

"For that I can and do sincerely apologise."

But he said: "I committed no crimes nor broke any laws.

"I had already realised the error of my ways and turned my back on that organisation years before those photos were published.

"I am a different person now. Why should I not stand? I am happy to let the voters decide. That is democracy."

Mr Weatherhead is one of five candidates contesting the by-election for his old seat of Hythe West.

The others are Tony Cooper, Labour; John Gabris, Conservative; Jenni Hawkins, Green, and Ian Meyers, Independent.

Voting will be on Thursday, March 2.