The BNP has announced it will be fielding a candidate in a by-election after the resignation of a former Liberal Democrat caught drink driving twice in a matter of weeks.

Hugh O’Hanlon was suspended from the Lib Dem ruling party at Watford Borough Council after he was caught driving home from the Tudor Arms pub in his Tudor ward. He vowed to fight on as an independent, but his resignation was announced this week, after the 56-year-old was again caught by police over the limit while behind the wheel.

A by-election has yet to be called and must be done so within six months.

The BNP, however, has already announced local businessman Guy Dickings, 37, will stand for its party in Tudor Ward.

Simon Deacon, a BNP councillor for Markyate Parish Council and Mr Dickings’ representative, said Tudor ward was a “dream seat”.

He said: “Because it’s not coming at a time of national general election, we will be fighting a full campaign. We will definitely win. The Lib Dems haven’t got a hope in hell. Labour in the current political climate are finished and the Tories haven’t got a hope in hell in Tudor.

The BNP will start their “thorough” campaign on Tuesday, leafleting and door-knocking the entire ward.

Mr Deacon said: “I cannot see anyone stopping us. This will be a thorough campaign. If we get one councillor, that’s one voice. We will put motions through the democratic chamber that will improve life for people in that area.”

And to any detractors of the BNP, Mr Deacon challenged them to stand against his candidate.

“If they’re not taking part in the election, then don’t interfere in the political process,” he said.

“If you disagree, put yourself up and see who people vote for. People now realise a lot of things people say about us are unfounded.”

Mr O’Hanlon, who is due to be sentenced at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates Court on Tuesday, said stepping down “was the right thing to do”.

He said: “I wasn’t under any pressure, but under the circumstances I felt it was for the best.

“I had the option to continue but that would have me being bloody minded and I think I have done the right thing by resigning, for myself, the people I represented and the party.

“I have a lot of medical conditions that need to be sorted out. I cannot really comment on the future until after Tuesday.

He added: “My family are behind me 100 per cent. I have been married 36 years and my wife and two daughters have given their full support.

He said he expected the BNP to receive “minimal support” in a ward that had re-elected him in the May elections.

*The BNP candidate's name is correctly spelt Dickens, despite being told it was Dickings at the time this story was written.