Tory campaigners were today branded as bullies by the UKIP team working hard in the delayed Thirsk and Malton election.

Conservative staff have been complaining to the local council about the positioning of UKIP posters in the North Yorkshire constituency, where UKIP candidate Toby Horton has been attracting support from former Tories.

Conservative-led Ryedale Council has told UKIP to remove the signs under highways and byways laws but the party campaign team, led by regional organiser Jane Collins, is refusing to do so.

"The Conservatives are using bully boy tactics," said Mrs Collins. "Our posters are alongside those of the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems and it is clear we are being victimised. We have no complaint about Labour and the Lib Dems who are campaigning perfectly properly but the Tories are behaving badly.

"It just demonstrates how worried they are about UKIP, particularly as we cost them about 20 seats in the General Election. I have no doubt that many Eurosceptic Tories will vote for our candidate Toby Horton, particularly now we have a pro-EU coalition government.”