A county councillor has spoken of his shock after receiving an election leaflet addressed to his dad, who died 15 years ago.

Mike Baldock said the Conservative Party mailshot was sent to his home in Wises Lane, Borden. It was addressed to his father, Michael W Baldock.

Mr Baldock, UKIP county councillor for Swale West, said the it took him completely by surprise.

He said: “I was just a bit shocked and couldn’t understand how it could have happened.

“The fact that there wasn’t a contact address or number on the leaflet added to the frustration, but it appears to be part of a national campaign.

“I could understand an electoral roll being a couple of years out of date, but 15 years is just incredible.”

Mr Baldock has appealed to campaigners to ensure all addressee names are correct as the campaigning hots up before next year’s general and local elections.

He said: “I wasn’t really prepared to receive a letter addressed to my dad and it took me back a bit.

“It almost seems a little bit sinister that they’ve kept his details for such a long time.

“I would ask parties to be more careful in future as someone more vulnerable receiving such a letter would, I’m sure, be most upset.”

Mr Baldock said the “peculiar” incident had a lighter side.

“Dad hadn’t voted for the last several years of his life – he didn’t rate any of the parties.”