JONATHON Seed has said he is "pleased and relieved" that charges against him have been dropped. 

It comes after he was charged with making a false statement on his nomination papers for the election of the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire last year.

Mr Seed said that he is "naturally very pleased and relieved, but very disappointed as to why it was felt necessary to bring a prosection against me at all".

A CPS spokesperson said: “We have a duty to keep cases under continuing review and, following a further review, we concluded that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Mr Seed added: "This decision followed further representations made by my solicitors that the case should be discontinued against me.  

"I would particularly like to thank my family, legal team and friends for their unswerving loyalty, belief, and support throughout the past traumatic year.  

"I will be providing a more detailed statement once my case has been formally withdrawn at Oxford Crown Court."