Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Dorothy Thornhill has received a £20,000 lift in her campaign for Westminster.

Former Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oakeshott, who resigned from the party last May, has been travelling the country to lend his backing to candidates in with a chance of toppling the Tories.

Mrs Thornhill’s election campaign war chest was given a £20,000 boost during a visit by Lord Oakeshott to the constituency this week.

She said: “I am delighted to get any support both with help on the doorstep and financially. “Matthew’s support has been a great help to match the millions raised by the Conservatives and the hundreds of thousands they are clearly spending here in Watford.

“He was very impressed with our campaign and is coming back on poling day to help get our vote out."

Despite quitting the Lib Dems after warning the party was ‘heading for disaster under Nick Clegg’, Lord Oakeshott announced plans to donate £600,000 to Conservative rivals in 45 marginal seats.

Lord Oakeshott, now an independent, said his donations were “his bit to save our country from a Tory government cringing to UKIP.”

Mrs Thornhill launched a £5,000 crowdfunding appeal earlier this month to help pay for leaflets and phone calls, described as “passing the begging bowl around” by Labour candidate Matthew Turmaine.

The Lib Dem’s Health Minister Norman Lamb also threw his backing behind Mrs Thornhill, as he campaigned in the Gade Valley Ward last week.

He said: “I was pleased to help out, it may only have been a few hours but everyone knows how close the race here.

“There were lots of pledges of support, not only for the local team, who clearly work all year round, but for Dorothy as a fresh voice for the area in Parliament."