A pensioner told a court he had no idea what he was signing when he agreed to lend his support to a UKIP candidate in local elections.

Dr Bob Spink, 69, is said to have taken a 'casual and misleading approach' while canvassing for party colleagues colleagues on doorsteps ahead of local council elections last May.

He allegedly 'disarmed voters' by shifting the conversation away from UKIP and winning residents over by discussing Europe, policing on the streets and his PCC nomination.

Many knew Spink from his two stints as Conservative MP for Castle Point, near Basildon, between 1992 and 1997 and again in 2001.

Some also recognised him from previous fleeting encounters at the local Conservative Club.

Spink later became UKIP's first MP in April 2008 after defecting from the Tories but redesignated himself an independent later that year and eventually lost the seat in 2010.

Some voters reported seeing UKIP election agent James Parkin, 38, accompanying him collecting signatures, Southwark Crown Court has heard.

Prosecutor Tom Nicholson said there were five residents of the Victoria Ward who felt they had been misled into signing a form nominating Samuel Parkyn to stand in the upcoming election.

Today jurors heard from John Inwood who recalled Spink and another man attending his home, discussing policing issues and eventually signing a form on a clipboard.

"All I did was what I was asked to do, to sign it, which I did," he said.

"I wasn't asked anything else.

"I just wanted to get him out of the way."

He added: "I just took it that I was signing it for him to say that he had been at my premises – that was it."

Mr Nicholson asked Mr Inwood if he knew signing it was "actually nominating someone to stand for the local council".

The pensioner replied that he did, adding that he was effectively asked by Spink if he could be counted on for his support.

He agreed to sign after they discussed the closing down of police stations and other issues because he thought Spink "was a good man", he said.

"Did he mention anyone by the name of Samuel Parkyn?" asked the prosecutor.

"He didn't," said Mr Inwood.

"I didn't know his name. I didn't know who he was."

Mr Inwood reiterated he was asked for his backing and gave it "because [he] took him to be a decent person".

"All he said to me was 'Would you sign here?'" he continued.

"I never took any notice of what it was."

Spink, of Downer Road, Benfeet, Essex, denies five counts of causing or permitting a false signature to be included in a nomination form.

Parkin, of Castle View Road, Canvey, denies six like offences.

The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues.