Keith Sharp, the Independent candidate, said he did not expect to win but used the campaign to raise civil liberties issues, which he believes are under attack.

The 71-year-old retired journalist and author, said he spent £780 out of his own pocket on the campaign, much of it on leaflets with a picture of Humphrey Bogart on the cover with the caption 'Here's looking at you, kid'.

This is a reference to the soaring numbers of CCTV cameras, which have sprung up in shopping centres. He is also against opposed to the police DNA database and claims his views have received a sympathetic hearing on the doorsteps.

'It's a total invasion of privacy. We've got all these little voyeurs watching our every move, what has it got to do with them? It doesn't stop crime, it's totally useless.'

With no party machinery behind him, it has been physically gruelling trying to get round the constituency, ending with a debate between all the candidates at The Avenue Church last night. He said he spent today resting.

Once upon a time Mr Sharp was a Tory branch chairman but quit when Mrs Thatcher was elected.