A former Cumbrian charity worker who ran to become MP has ditched Ukip and set up a new political party.

Kerryanne Wilde has teamed up with Carlisle's Richard Pitchford, also a former Ukip member, to set up WISE Reunited - a new party that they hope will eventually challenge for Government.

The pair, who are both former military, said they both lost faith in their former party and did not feel it fully represented their values.

Mrs Wilde, 44, of Shap, is well-known as the founder of aid charity CERT, formerly Eden Flood Volunteers.

She has spent the past few months putting together the paperwork to officially register the new party. She said this is now complete and they are ready to launch nationally.

Mrs Wilde explained that WISE stands for Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England, and aims to bring these nations back together.

She said it all stemmed from her decision to stand as Ukip's Parliamentary candidate in Penrith and the Border, saying there was a lack of support from the party and its reputation did not help her.

"I felt its reputation had been tarred. The feedback I got was that people had voted strategically, and for me it would have been better if I'd stood as an independent," she said.

"Afterwards I just felt there was a need for a different approach. I personally don't think I'm left or right. That's not how I was brought up or how I see the future. I would say I am lateral. I wanted a party that could represent me as an individual."

The party will initially focus on gaining local council seats, and eventually progress to Parliamentary seats.

Mrs Wilde is the chairman of WISE Reunited and also the deputy leader. Meanwhile Mr Pitchford has been appointed leader.

The 45-year-old, from Carlisle, said he already has plans to run to be MP for the city at the next General Election.

A dad of three, Mr Pitchford said he was born in Kendal and moved to Carlsile as a child. He lived in Anthorn through his teens and attended Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton.

He later joined the army and served for 23 years, before returning to Carlisle, where he now lives.

He said he joined Ukip a few years ago and was local chairman, but soon decided to leave. "I felt they were a single goal party, to leave the EU. My vision for politics was much broader," he said.

"There is also an awful stigma attached to them and I didn't want to be part of that."

Mr Pitchford met Mrs Wilde during the recent election campaign and said they shared similar views on politics.

He added: "The real purpose of WISE Reunited is not to aim at one goal. We recognise that politics has become very disconnected from the electorate and that this must change.

"We feel that politicians should be more accessible to people and that we should actually do more to interact on a day to day basis."

Mrs Wilda said although it will be a national party, her vision is that its base will always be in Cumbria.

She hopes to set up an office in the Penrith area.