New group formed by UKIP members

Plymouth's branch of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has closed amid dissatisfaction at the way the party is being run.

Chairman Tom Williams resigned along with 11 others, including three other officers and six committee members.

He said after Monday night's annual meeting that there were no nominations to take over from officers.

Mr Williams, who has started a new group, said it was now up to other members to "resurrect" the branch.

Election fight

The meeting, attended by about 30 members, reflected party apathy and was "boisterous" at times, said Mr Williams.

"Some of them felt us leaving was just what the other parties wanted," said Mr Williams, who has started a new group called New Battle for Britain.

"We argued our new group has achieved more in the short time it has been going, since October, than UKIP has for many years," he said.

Mr Williams said his new group had up to 30 members, mainly from UKIP, and hoped to contest 19 seats at next May's local elections.

He said UKIP had to "pull their socks up and reach out to the people".