A former member of the European parliament who was behind a petition in support of Boris Johnson could be set to stand for a Norfolk constituency in the next general election.

David Campbell Bannerman, who campaigned in support of Mr Johnson following his resignation as prime minister, is in the running to be the Conservative candidate for South Norfolk

The soon-to-be-vacant seat is currently held by Richard Bacon, who announced in May he would not be seeking re-election, after members of the local Tory association told him they did not wish for him to retain the seat he has held since 2001.

Mr Campbell Bannerman has had an eventful political career.

He was an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate for the Tories in 1997, in Glasgow Rutherglen, and in 2001, in Warwick and Leamington.

He then joined UKIP in 2004, running for parliament in North Cornwall a year later.

In 2006, he stood for the party's leadership and was appointed deputy leader by Nigel Farage, who won the contest.

Three years later, he was elected to the European parliament for the East of England region, which covers Norfolk.

He contested the leadership again in 2010, again losing to Mr Farage.

The following year, Mr Campbell Bannerman returned to the Tories, sitting as a Conservative MEP until the end of his term in 2019.

He said: "I can confirm I am very interested in standing for South Norfolk as a local Norfolk man who lives in Norwich.

"As the former MEP covering South Norfolk, I know the area well, campaigning in Diss and Long Stratton for example, and it would be a great honour to serve."

Mr Campbell Bannerman was a staunch campaigner for Brexit during the EU referendum and has proven one of former PM Mr Johnson's main allies.

After Mr Johnson left Downing Street, Mr Campbell Bannerman helped to organise a petition to give Tory members a "Boris ballot" - to effectively vote on whether the party should accept his resignation.

He also helped found a new group called the 'Conservative Democratic Organisation' of which he serves as national chairman.

The South Norfolk Conservative Association has been approached for comment on Mr Campbell Bannerman's prospective candidacy but did not respond.