TWO stalwart Wickford campaigners will be flying the flag for Ukip during this year’s council elections.

Chairman of the Wickford Action Group, Alan Ball, and vice chairman, David Harrison, have been selected by the anti-European Union party to contest the three seats up for grabs in the town in May.

They will be joined by businessman Peter Holliman, with the trio looking to capitalise on a successful 2013 for the party in the town.

Ukip councillor Nigel Le Gresley bagged a double in May, winning the borough election in Wickford Castledon and the county council election in Wickford Crouch.

Mr Ball stood as an independent in that borough election, and received 16 per cent of the vote, pushing Labour into fourth place.

The action group has been campaigning against over-development in the town for several years.

Mr Ball said: “Because Ukip councillors have no party whip, but work entirely for the residents of our towns and cities, I know I will be able to continue to stand up for the people of Wickford and fully represent their views and concerns.”

The three seats up for grabs are all held by Tories – Don Morris in Wickford Park, council leader Tony Ball in Wickford North, and councillor responsible for regeneration, Malcolm Buckley.

The action group has been campaigning for a revamp of the town since the collapse of a £120million masterplan in 2010, but have labelled the tory administration's plans to pump £3.1million into the swimming pool and High Street, plus spend more than £2million on a health centre, a poor compromise.

Mr Harrison, who used to be a senior Labour councillor on Basildon Council more than two decades ago, said: “We can achieve more in the coming couple of years than the existing councillors have managed in the past 10 years.”

Mr Holliman added: “Having lived in Wickford for more than 30 years and raised a family here, I would now like to give something back to the community and use my skill and experience to help make Wickford a better place for all.”