The controversial property magnate Fergus Wilson says he will go to court to try to overturn a decision to block him from standing as a candidate in the election for Kent’s crime commissioner.

His nomination papers were rejected by the electoral returning officer Nadeem Aziz in a statement which indicated that they were invalid.

It said: “Nomination Invalid as the papers were not delivered as required by law and were not subscribed as required by law.”

Mr Wilson, who had wanted to stand as an independent, had been expected to be challenged over his eligibility, over a conviction for assault.

He said he would be seeking an injunction to stop ballot papers from being printed to allow him to appeal the decision.

"We are quite confident we will be granted an injunction next week. I am disappointed as this is a job I wanted to do. But if a judge rules against the injunction, that will be it."

The prospect of a legal tussle could throw the campaign into confusion and would delay the printing of ballot papers.

In recent weeks, Mr Wilson has been placing adverts in newspapers setting out his policy programme - including a pledge to set up a reward scheme and hotline for anyone who spotted and reported illegal immigrants.

His disqualification means that the race to become Kent’s next crime commissioner will be contested by six candidates.

Mr Wilson, who lives in Boughton Monchelsea, was appealing against the conviction for which he was fined £500 in the hope that it would permit him to enter the contest.

Meanwhile, English Democrat candidate Steve Uncles has successfully appealed to have a court case in which he is facing charges of electoral fraud postponed until after the May poll.

The charges date back to 2013 when he stood in the county council elections.

The full list of candidates are: Henry Bolton (UKIP); Matthew Scott (Con); Tristan Osborne (Lab); Gurvinder Sandher (Ind); David Naghi (Lib Dem) and Steve Uncles (EDP).

The poll takes place on May 5.

BLOG: Our political editor Paul Francis looks at how the crime commissioner campaign is beset by indifference and negativity