A candidate for the upcoming borough council elections has been handing out leaflets - for his political rivals.

Lawrence Stack is standing in Borehamwood’s Brookmeadow ward as the candidate for UKIP, and believed he would be campaigning against Conservative councillor Harvey Cohen, who is seeking re-election.

After nominating another Tory candidate, Clive Butchins, and helping with his campaign, Mr Stack later realised that Cllr Cohen was in fact standing in Elstree and Mr Butchins would be his electoral rival.

He said: “Clive is a really decent bloke, so I nominated him and have helped to hand out leaflets for his campaign. It was only when the candidate list was published that I realised I was standing against him.

“He is a really nice, genuine man, so all I can say is good luck to him. It's all quite funny really.”

This will be the first time Mr Stack has stood as a candidate for Hertsmere Borough Council.

Conservative candidate Mr Butchins said: “When I asked Lawrence to sign my nomination I certainly had no idea that he would be standing and I am pretty sure that he didn’t either, so that was all done in the best possible faith.

“We have had the benefit of Lawrence's contributions at a number of town council meetings over the past year or two and he clearly has the welfare of our community at heart. I wish him all the best for his future in politics.”