POLITICAL opponents have hit out at UKIP's prospective Stourbridge parliamentary candidate James Carver after he chose to open an office in Kidderminster.

Mr Carver stressed the premises in Coventry Street, Kidderminster, were in connection with his role as MEP for the West Midlands.

But he admitted he would be running his parliamentary campaign from Kidderminster as well and said: "I could have set up office in Stourbridge but there are various reasons for going to Kidderminster.

"This is a European constituency office and I'm in my constituency of the West Midlands.

"We already have an office in Sedgley and geographically Kidderminster is very close to Stourbridge, so I don't see it as a problem."

But councillor Pete Lowe, Labour's candidate for Stourbridge, has condemned the decision and accused UKIP of a serious lack of judgement.

He said: "I've lived in Stourbridge all my life and I understand only too well the importance of having a local identity and to represent those views.

"Setting up shop outside the borough speaks volumes for the UKIP campaign in Stourbridge."

Mr Lowe also revealed he would be announcing the venue of his campaign office within the next week or so, but stressed: "You can be certain it will be in the heart of the community."

Liz Walker, chairman of Stourbridge Conservative Association, also criticised Mr Carver's decision and stated: "If he thinks being in Kidderminster is where the Stourbridge constituents are, then he's wrong."

Stourbridge MP Margot James has only recently switched her office to the Old Library, situated on the corner of Church Street and Hagley Road.

Mrs Walker added: "Margot has an office in Stourbridge and spends most of her weekends in Stourbridge from where she does an awful lot of work in the constituency.

"She understands the importance of having an office in Stourbridge and meeting the people of Stourbridge."