Essex journalist Kim Gandy is stepping into the political arena by standing as an English Democrats Party candidate in the forthcoming local elections.

The freelance journalist, who has written for local newspapers such as the Essex Enquirer, is one of 50 candidates across the country representing the party which says it believes in putting England first.

Kim, (44), is hoping to represent the Crouch Ward of Basildon, on Basildon District Council.

She says one of her areas of concern is the illegal development of greenbelt by travellers.

She said: "My aim is to try to get the council to stop illegal development of greenbelt - and the accompanying rise in public order crimes and theft.

"These are issues that need to be addressed and I decided to do something about it and stand up and be counted."

For the past 18 months she has also been a councillor for Billericay Town Council, which is a non-politcal role.

Kim began her career in newspapers as a copytaker on Fleet Street.

For the past three years she has written features for the Essex Enquirer, which also regularly carried her Sour Gripes column, but in the run-up to the June 10 elections she is taking a step back from her freelance role.

She is also currently researching a book on the history of streets in Chelmsford, which is due to be published by Tempus Publishing next year.

To find out more about the English Democrats, visit www.englishdemocrats.org.uk.

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