A Norfolk election candidate who relocated from France to Rockland St Mary says the county's towns lack a "sense of community". 

Jason Maguire, standing for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in South Norfolk, has said he wants to tackle loneliness and isolation among people living in towns - such as Diss and Long Stratton. 

Mr Maguire is one of 122 candidates the Social Democratic Party is fielding at the General Election, up from 20 in 2019.

The original SDP was founded in 1981 by the so-called 'gang of four' - Roy Jenkins, David Owen, William Rodgers and Shirley Williams, disenchanted ex-Labour cabinet members.

The party merged with the Liberal Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats, but the current SDP formed in 1990.

Mr Maguire, an electrician and self-proclaimed "average guy", said he was not expecting to win at the election but hoped to raise his party's profile.

He added: "There's a lot of disinterest out there but there have been some positive vibes about our policies on the doorstep. This is about promoting the party."

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Mr Maguire, who is originally from London, lived in France for 20 years before moving to Rockland St Mary after meeting a woman online and beginning a relationship.

He has since moved to Lakenham but regularly visits voters in South Norfolk - where he believes a sense of care between neighbours needs to be encouraged.

He said: "There isn't a sense of community in our larger towns and that needs addressing. We need to support our older population."

While other members of his party have spoken out against controversial plans for miles of pylons in the constituency, Mr Maguire was more hesitant. 

"We need them," he said. "It would be very expensive to put them underground and South Norfolk would need to be prepared to pay for that."

"I think we need a smorgasbord of power," he added.

The other candidates in South Norfolk are the Lib Dem's Chris Brown, Independent candidate Paco Davila, Labour's Ben Goldsborough, Reform UK's Chris Harrison, the Green's Catherine Rowett and Conservative Poppy Simister-Thomas.