The Conservative parliamentary candidate for Twickenham, Emma Ware, has sadly had to stand down due to ill health.

Emma has received support from across the political spectrum for the difficult decision, including from the sitting Lib-Dem MP, Munira Wilson.

The long-time party activist revealed the details on social media, saying: "It is with great sadness that I have stood down as Conservatives Parliamentary Spokesperson for Twickenham due to ill health.

"I'll will make a full recovery but it will take time and Twickenham Tories deserve someone working at their very best."

Emma, an enthusiastic supporter of Boris Johnson who was only appointed in October, thanked party colleagues for their support and insisted she will be back campaigning as soon as possible.

The Conservatives had poor results in the May local elections last year and were left with just one councillor on Richmond Borough Council. The polls suggest their candidates in both Twickenham and Richmond face an uphill struggle at a future general election.

South West London, including Richmond, Twickenham and Kingston, have become known as the 'Golden Crescent' because of Lib-Dem success.

Emma's Tory counterpart for Kingston and Surbiton, Helen Edward, who is an activist in Richmond, wrote: "So sorry to lose our Twickenham and SW London champion challenger to the Golden Crescent as they call it .. . we would have been a great team .. get back to your best life soon best wishes for a full recovery."

Munira Wilson MP responded saying: "I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to meet. Very sorry to hear you've been unwell. Wishing you a speedy recovery."

Lib-Dem councillors passed on their good wishes, including Cllr James Chard.