UKIP have announced their candidate for the upcoming West of England metro mayor election.

Farmer Aaron Foot, the party’s previous candidate for last year’s Police and Crime Commissioner election, has come forward with a pledge to be different from “a selection of career politicians that are almost indistinguishable from one another.”

The metro mayor, who will be elected on May 4, will oversee the West of England Combined Authority, which includes South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset, as part of a £1 billion devolution deal.

The deal also includes a range of powers on issues including housing and transport, handed over from central government.

Mr Foot, who grew up near Bristol and was educated in Kingswood, studied farming in Wiltshire, before entering into the dairy industry, buying a free holding in Somerset to set up his own farm.

He said: "If elected as metro mayor, I will work with everyone across the new West of England Combined Authority.

“I firmly believe that direct democracy can and will deliver outstanding levels of service and will ensure all voices are heard.”

Outlining his three commitments to the role, Mr Foot said: “As a farmer, I understand the vast importance of the greenbelt and thus I do not want to see our nation stripped of its prime agricultural land and natural wildlife habitats.

“This is why I will fight hard to prevent our countryside becoming swamped by over-development, as our countryside must be preserved so be enjoyed by future generations.

“I will also pledge to get the Bristol and Bath grid lock sorted once and for all. This will be achieved by ending the war on motorists and implementing an integrated transport network where bus, train and road user all work together.

“Finally, I want to be the voice that represents you, the public, this is why in the first 100 days in office, I will create a direct democracy platform so we can shape the West Of England together.

“This will be done so that we can all champion change.”

Dr Julia Reid MEP, who nominated Mr Foot for the role, said: “People are beginning to feel increasingly more disenfranchised with the current establishment parties.

“It’s always the same old politics with the same old politicians, and people have finally had enough of it.

“This is why Aaron intends to run on a direct democracy platform.

“Many of those living in the Bristol, BANES, and South Gloucestershire area don’t want a new combined authority or metro mayor, rather it’s being forced upon them.

“Therefore, if Aaron is elected to be the region's first metro mayor, he’ll go through great efforts to give more power back to the people and ensure that everyone has a voice.”