Newark by-election: One tree-mendous row at polling station

A resident who put a UKIP sign on a tree opposite a polling station agreed to take it down "before I get arrested."

UKIP supporter Mr Mick O'Connor, 61, of Carswell Close, placed a UKIP sign on the tree by his home, clearly visible to people entering the polling station only a few metres away.

He was embroiled in a verbal exchange with a Conservative activist who he saw trying to take it down.

He said: "I put the sign on the tree near the polling station. I was in my kitchen and at 7.10am I saw a woman from the Conservatives come and take it down.

"I asked her what she was doing she said I couldn't have it there. I said I knew what she was up, and she said she knew what I was up to.

"I didn't know it would cause any trouble."

Mr O'Connor subsequently put the sign back up on a tree slightly further away from the polling station.

Carswell Close is an enclosed sheltered housing complex within the same grounds as a community centre which is used as a polling station.

Officials from the UKIP and Conservative central offices became involved and Kelham Hall was called for advice, before an official from the electoral commission came to view the sign and establish whether it was legally positioned.

Mr O'Connor eventually put the sign in his kitchen window instead.

He told the Advertiser: "Of course I was trying to influence. I will take it down now and put it in my window before I get arrested."