A former Liberal Democrat who stood for Thanet South in the general election in 2010 is among four UKIP candidates vying for the nomination.

Peter Bucklitsch stood for the Liberal Democrats in the same seat at the last election - coming third - but has since left the party and joined UKIP.

He is one of four shortlisted by the Thanet South constituency association - including party leader Nigel Farage.

The announcement comes ahead of next week's selection meeting for what is among the party's top target seats next year.

Nigel Farage is widely expected to secure the nomination, but has insisted he is not a "shoo-in" for the job.

The other candidates are Piers Wauchope, a Tunbridge Wells councillor and UKIP's candidate in the police and crime commissioner elections in Kent in 2012, and Elizabeth Jones, a family lawyer who joined UKIP in 2010 and contested the West Norwood and Dulwich seat in the same year.