Kent Police is the latest force preparing to go to court to ask for more time to investigate claims about Conservative election expenses in South Thanet.

It is the latest of several forces to say they would like more time to investigate the allegations, which were first raised by Channel 4 news.

If the court agrees to the request, it means Kent Police would have a further 12 months to probe the allegations.

The Conservative party has denied any wrong-doing and says all its election expenses complied with the laws on spending.

The battle for South Thanet attracted widespread interest as UKIP leader Nigel Farage sought to become MP.

Kent Police was among several forces who attended a meeting last week with the Electoral Commission and the Crown Prosecution Service to discuss the issue.

The claims centre on whether the expenses run up by the Conservatives in the South Thanet campaign were properly reported to the Electoral Commission.

The constituency is one of a number where the Conservatives are facing claims they failed to properly record the costs of “battle buses” and accommodation for scores of activists helping in key target seats.

Under electoral law, any claims made about the conduct of an election would normally have to be made within 12 months of the ballot unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The force said no date had yet been set for its application to the court for a time extension.

Kent's newly-elected Conservative police commissioner Matthew Scott has said that he will not interfere in any investigation conducted by the police