JAMES Abbott is under no illusion about the likelihood of voters propelling him into Parliament in two weeks’ time.

However, the long-serving Green Party district councillor for Silver End is hoping they will elect him to his local seat for the 17th year.

Braintree Council elections are taking place on the same day as the General Election and although Mr Abbott is standing as an MP for Witham he is also campaigning in the Braintree constituency.

This is because Boundary Commission changes mean Cressing has now been joined to Silver End electorally.

On a quiet Friday afternoon in Claud Ince Avenue Mr Abbott meets a mix of young and old, most of them still unsure about who to vote for.

He said: “I’m picking up that about half the people don’t know about the local elections.

“Our main aim is to get our vote up, I’m not going to predict that we’re going to win in Witham but we are building.

“We can make steady progress and maybe get close to the Lib Dems.”

Mr Abbott is focusing on local rather than national issues and is well-known for championing causes in the area. He said: “If people have got a problem they can ring me up any time of the day or night.”

One man, a van driver, said his biggest local issue was Galleys Corner roundabout, which caused him daily delays.

An elderly couple told Mr Abbott they were concerned about the S-bend approaching the roundabout off Millennium Way.

With both he was able to give a fairly comprehensive account of what he believed was needed.

On a few occasions he met young voters, who said they were not planning to vote at all.

He said: “The younger people are less likely to vote, which isaproblem for our demographic.

“I think growing up there is another world they live in, they are thinking about different things but I think that will change as they get older.”