UKIP is to target six seats in Southend’s council elections next year.

Buoyed by success in this year’s county council elections, the anti-EU party will field candidates in West Shoebury, Prittlewell, Eastwood, Blenheim Park, Westborough and in West Leigh in May.

James Moyies, who stood down as eastern counties chairman early this month, to co-ordinate the party’s election campaign in Southend, said: “It’s going to be a big year for us.

“We expect to get a big breakthrough in Southend.”