A UKIP parliamentary candidate standing for a seat in Southampton will not be charged over allegations he gave away free sausage rolls at a party event.

Kim Rose (who is standing in Southampton Itchen, claimed he had been told to report to police over allegations of ‘treating’ at an event which featured veteran snooker star Jimmy White at a community centre in the Weston area of the city on February 21.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed they will not be pressing charges.

Food and entertainment cannot be provided by candidates to “corruptly influence” votes, according to Electoral Commission rules.

Mr Rose, who runs Scarletts jewellery store in Romsey,  said the alleged police involvement was “absolutely ridiculous” and said he was contacted by Hampshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit.

After discovering they would not be charging him, he said: “This has been crazy. The police have said they are not taking any further action. They did warn me about the severity of it and warned me about handing out anything else, especially sausage rolls. Now I will be worried every time I pass a bakery.”