The jury in the election expenses trial of South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay and election campaigner Marion Little will resume their deliberations today following a break over Christmas.

The trial at Southwark Crown Court began in October and is into its ninth week.

The allegations concern claims that election expenses returns were not properly reported by the Conservative party in the General Election of 2015.

This allegedly allowed Mackinlay to beat then Ukip leader Nigel Farage to the seat.

The charges relate chiefly to expenses returns for hotel accommodation in Ramsgate and the use of so-called battle buses that brought in activists to help the campaign.

The charges concern claims that much of these costs should have been recorded as local campaign expenditure and had they done so, would have breached permitted spending limits set for individual constituencies.

Both Mr Mackinlay and Marion Little have denied the charges.

Defence lawyers representing the pair have argued the returns were registered properly as national expenditure on the grounds the Conservative party had based its national campaign against Ukip in Thanet.

Mr Mackinlay, 52, faces two charges of making a false election expenses declaration under the Representation of The People Act.

Ms Little, election campaigner, denies three counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007.

The jury cleared a third defendant - Nathan Gray, the election agent for Mr Mackinlay in 2015 - before breaking for Christmas - of one charge of falsifying election returns.