FORMER Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel visited the new Tiverton and Minehead constituency in a show of support for Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

Dame Priti attended a private function in the five-star Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham, where she spoke to more than 60 guests.

Earlier in the day Dame Priti also campaigned on doorsteps with Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez.

Ms Hernandez, who also attended the evening occasion, is the Conservative PCC candidate for re-election on Thursday, May 2.

She covers parishes in the Culm Valley which are part of the new constituency Mr Liddell-Grainger will be contesting at the next General Election.

Constituency party chairman Jean Parbrook welcomed Dame Priti, who gave a short speech in which she said that no matter how badly people thought the country was being run at the moment, it would be worse if a Labour Government was in power.