A MAN hoping to make it on to Southend Council has been caught trying to get relatives and friends to bombard the Echo with letters of support.

Conservative candidate Blaine Robin will be fighting for a seat on Southend's Kursaal ward in the May 1 elections Part of his campaign has included sending an e-mail to friends and relatives.

However, it was accidentally sent to an amused recipient who forwarded it to us.

In the e-mail, Mr Robin said: "Dear friends and relatives, many thanks for your continued efforts for supporting my campaign this year.

"We have only nine days to go to determine whether the community gives me a mandate as their local representative in the local council elections.

"Please consider writing to newspapers commenting about my contribution in the community.

"For an idea of what I do locally please go to my website - www.blainerobin.com."

He then recommended six of the topics they should be writing about:

  • Blaine's contribution as a football coach in Kursaal
  • Blaine's contribution helping with clearing fly tipped litter in Boscombe Road and Wimborne Road
  • Blaine's contribution to the Network Rail debate and community participation
  • Blaine's contribution with the elderly
  • Blaine's contribution with a Street Dance Clinic in Southchurch Park
  • Blaine's contribution to Kursaal and raising its profile as a tourist town.

His instructions also included: "Letters must have your address and contact telephone number to stand a chance of publication.

"Please write some on a daily basis.

"Not more than 200 words. We need letters every single day between now and May 1."

He ended the letter with the e-mail address of the Echo and another local paper.

When we contacted Mr Robin, he said: "I'd rather not comment on the e-mail.

"I have no problem with the Echo and even enjoy your political correspondent Geoff Percival's neutrality on all things political."

He added: "But I am running another community project in Southchurch Park on Saturday."