A millionaire politician and staunch critic of the European Union visited Watford this afternoon to meet old friends and support his party’s local election campaign.

Libertas founder Declan Ganley, who was born and raised in Garston, visited his childhood home in Chichester Way and later campaigned in the town centre.

The Irish resident, who shot to fame last year after persuading voters there to reject the European Constitution, shared fond memories of his home town and leant his support to Eastern Region candidate and former borough councillor John Dowdle.

Mr Ganley said his party, which is fielding around 300 candidates across the continent, wanted to tackle the “rotten heart” of the EU and “challenge the unelected and unaccountable elites which are making 70 to 80 per cent of the laws in the UK.”

The pan-European party, he stressed, had the capability to win anything up to 100 seats in next month’s elections, allowing it to bring real and lasting change.

Surrounded by former friends and family Mr Ganley recalled fond childhood memories of the area. He added: “People say it takes a whole village to raise a child and this was my village.”