A WEYMOUTH man rejected as a full UKIP candidate because he is disabled has been flooded with offers from other parties.

The anti-EU party sent a letter to Jack Biggs telling him he could not stand as a full candidate for Wyke Regis because both of his knees had been replaced.

The party told him he could stand as a paper candidate - a term used by major parties to describe a candidate who is not expected to win a seat.

But today Mr Biggs, 65, of High Street, Wyke Regis, has received two offers of support from two other parties.

Both the English Democrats and Veritas have offered him their support as a full candidate.

Mr Biggs said: "I'm thinking about the English Democrats.

"The reason I wanted to stand in the first place is patriotism. I think it's important that we get out of the EU.

"Of the two I think English Democrats have a similar idea to UKIP. I totally agree with UKIP's policies, I just don't agree the way they do it."

Meanwhile, UKIP has hit back at Mr Biggs.

It claims he tried to force the party into not putting up a candidate at Tophill East in Portland for the May elections - a ward currently represented by his daughter Jacqui Redfern.

The party released an email from Mr Biggs to UKIP south Dorset secretary John Chippington.

It reads: "John, I have been special Forces. I am a very good friend but a very bad enemy. If you stay on track, ignoring me, but trying to unseat my UKIP minded daughter I will take the story for the Echo, ref you do not want disabled candidates for UKIP. This is not a threat but a promise.

"This anti disability bit by UKIP will also probably go National in the press. I wonder what Nigel - who is the same sort of man as I am - would make of the way you are ignoring local realities.

"One of the main local issues that almost everyone is against is the Pier development. My daughter was one of 8 Councillors who voted against this. And you have people 'in droves' to vote against her.

"You have 24 hours to reconsider your position before I see one of my friend reporters on the Echo with the disability story Jack Biggs BEM (Military) But Mr Biggs denied the letter was meant to be threatening. He said today: "They may call it blackmail - I call it a promise."