Candidate sorry after leaflet error mixes up cities

Charles Fifield (centre) is the candidate for Mid-Cheshire for the Conservatives

A Conservative candidate has apologised after a leaflet produced by his team mixed up a town in Cheshire with the city of Norwich.

Charles Fifield, who is standing in the new constituency of Mid-Cheshire, said an oversight led to the leaflet mentioning campaigning for step-free access at "Norwich Station" instead of Northwich Station.

Labour’s Mike Amesbury, who is the MP for the area which currently contains the town, criticised the leaflet.

Mr Fifield said he did not see the final draft and as a person with a disability the issue was important to him.

Key pledge

Mid-Cheshire is a new seat for the next general election, made up of the towns of Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford.

Northwich is currently part of Weaver Vale, which is held by Labour’s Mike Amesbury, while Middlewich is in Conservative-held Congleton and Winsford is in Eddisbury, also a Conservative seat.

Mr Fifield, a former Cheshire West and Chester councillor, said he had lived and worked in the area for his entire life.

He said he did see an early draft and asked for a change to the caption, but did not see the final draft prior to printing.

“For that I am sorry,” he said.

“The issue of access improvements at Northwich station is important to me, as I am disabled myself.

"I have muscular dystrophy, which is why I specifically put that issue in the leaflet alongside supporting the campaign to re-open the Middlewich line to passengers.”

Mr Amesbury, who will stand for the new seat of Runcorn and Helsby, said: “Everyone can make a typo.

“But it beggars belief to misspell the name of one of the key towns this candidate is seeking to represent given the pride my constituents rightly have in the place they call home.”