The race for the two Norwich seats in Westminster will have a number of runners and riders, with anti-austerity and disability campaigners announcing plans to stand for election.

Disability campaigner Mick Hardy has said he wants to raise awareness of the plight of disabled people by standing as a candidate for the Dandy Party in Norwich North.

The 61-year-old, whose party name stands for 'Disabled and not dead yet' decided to put himself up for election earlier this year to highlight concerns about the way disabled people are being treated.

Mr Hardy, who does not work because he suffers from arthritis and mobility problems, as well as stress and anxiety, has been raising the cash for his campaign through crowdfunding.

The Norfolk-born campaigner, who has undergone a work capability assessment, said that disabled people have been hit by austerity measures more than other people in society.

The organisation Class War has also announced it plans to stand two candidates in Norwich for the General Election in 2015, saying it will make the working class and austerity its key issues.

Its policies include doubling dole, doubling pensions, doubling all other benefits, a 50pc mansion tax, abolishing all public schools and abolishing the monarchy.

Its Norwich North candidate is Stan Grant, a social justice campaigner and interim secretary of Norwich Bartender's and Hospitality Union.

David Peel, an anti-austerity campaigner and one of the founders of the Norfolk People's Assembly, will be standing in Norwich South.

Mr Grant said: 'Wages have stagnated in this country while the cost of living soars.'

He also said benefits had 'become less accessible and less likely to provide for basic needs'.

He added: 'Class War are different. We have working class politics for working class people. We are taking the fight to them and they are on the run.'

• Are you planning to stand for election in the East? Email annabelle.dickson@archant.co.uk