UKIP leader Nigel Farage has denied claims that he has decided to stand as a candidate in Folkestone and Hythe at the general election.

The claim was made by Shepway Conservative councillor David Wimble, who runs a local magazine on Romney Marsh and spoke to Mr Farage while he was on a three-day business trip on a cruise ship.

However, Mr Farage moved swiftly to dampen down the latest speculation, saying on Sunday: "He has got the wrong end of the stick.

"I did speak to him but said very carefully that it was one of the seats that I was looking at."

Mr Farage is said to be weighing up a number of constituencies before making a decision over the summer.

It has been thought he would go for the Thanet South seat, where current Conservative MP Laura Sandys is standing down. He recently said that was a "distinct possibility".

Mr Wimble said Mr Farage had told him he was "highly likely" to put his name forward for Folkestone and Hythe but that he was also considering his options for other seats.