Nigel Farage was in an up-beat mood on a visit to Sandwich and Ramsgate saying Ukip could spring a surprise in the election.

He said the party could yet confound the pollsters and there was still time to win round undecided voters and wavering Conservatives.

He revealed Ukip had considered not fielding a candidate because the election was focused on Brexit and the Conservative Craig Mackinlay was a Brexiteer.

"There was a consideration here about whether to field a candidate here

"I said 'you have got to'. I would have thought we must be in with a very good chance. It is a straight race between Ukip and Labour."

He said that he did not regret his decision not to stand again and had felt a little bitter about the result in 2015.. "Life moves on. I regret much of the behaviour of 2015."

Mr Farage went on a walkabout in Sandwich with candidate Stuart Piper before heading to Ramsgate where he was due to make a speech to activists and supporters

A small but vocal group of Labour party supporters gathered outside the hall before his arrival.

Mr Piper told the rally it was time for the Tories to realise Ukip is the Brexit party.

Mr Farage lost the constituency in the 2015 election battle.

His visit comes the day after his opponent at the 2015 election, Conservative Craig Mackinlay, was told that he is to be charged with offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

The allegations concerns claims that the Conservative party breached the rules on expenses during the campaign in South Thanet. The party has rejected claims of wrong-doing. Mr Mackinlay firmly denies he has done anything wrong.

Mr Farage was due to help canvassing with Ukip candidate Rev Stuart Piper and will make a rallying speech to activists.

Nevertheless, the presence of Mr Farage will give a lift to Ukip, which has been rocked by a series of election losses in Kent - notably at the county council election in May, when it lost all 17 seats it held on KCC.

And this week, it saw one of its councillors on Thanet council defect to the Conservatives over what he claimed were Ukip’s broken promises, citing Manston as an example.

Whether Mr Farage's visit will come in enough time to reverse his party’s fortunes remains to be seen.

Even given his legendary capacity to galvanise supporters, it may be too late.