The new-established Brexit Party - backed by Nigel Farage - has officially launched in Cumbria ahead of the upcoming European elections.

Local members are planning to hold events in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Kendal and Barrow in the coming weeks.

The party has just appointed John Stanyer, who led the Vote Leave campaign in the area, as its Cumbria chairman.

It was established by pro-leave supporters who are angry that the UK is still part of the European Union, despite the result of the Brexit referendum.

The extension to Article 50 means that we must now elect MEPs to sit in the European Parliament, with voters set to go to the polls on May 23.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage and ex-Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe are among the big names standing for the Brexit Party, which has also announced a list of north west candidates.

Mr Stanyer explained why he is backing it. “Our focus in entirely on getting the result of the referendum enacted,” he said.

“There is a feeling out there among the general public that the democratic vote has been overturned by politicians.

“About 55 per cent of people in Cumbria voted for Brexit and they are really annoyed. There’s also another group who actually voted remain but believe that the referendum result should be followed through. A lot of people feel our country has been humiliated on the world stage. We’ve been made to look like fools.”

Mr Stanyer said that nationally the party has gained more than 66,000 members in just a few weeks, and that is growing by the day. In Cumbria, he said they already have a loyal following of volunteers who are already out on the ground campaigning.

He claimed the Brexit Party is very different from Ukip, despite having one of its most high-profile former leaders, in the shape of Mr Farage, as a candidate.

“We are a cross-party group. We are getting people from all sides of the argument - attracting supporters from the right and left. We are also doing things a bit differently from the way political parties have in the past. It’s less formal, [more] grassroots,” he said.

“Things are happening very quickly and time is of the essence. We’re already doing some leafleting and will be doing our first street stalls next weekend.”

Other parties are also fielding candidates in the MEP election.