A major figure from the Brexit campaign has been revealed as Reform UK’s candidate for a key mayoral race. Arron Banks was announced as the mayoral candidate for the West of England at the insurgent party's rally in Birmingham on Friday.

The businessman founded the Leave EU campaign with now-Reform MP Richard Tice and was previously one of the largest donors to UKIP. “Vote Banksy for Bristol,” he said as his candidacy was unveiled ahead of the May ballot.

It comes as Nigel Farage’s party launches its local election campaign at a rally at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.

Reform has described the event as "the biggest-ever launch rally in modern British political history", with 10,000 tickets said to have been sold.

Mr Farage, deputy leader Richard Tice and MP Lee Anderson are due to speak.

The Reform leader will hit out at the country's "broken" councils during his address.

Mr Banks joins other Reform mayoral candidates including former Tory minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who is running for Greater Lincolnshire.

Former professional boxer Luke Campbell, who won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, is standing for the newly created mayor of Hull and East Riding.