Former Conservative fireband Alby Tebbutt will return to politics and join the Mayor of Havering at Ukip, and says he will “wipe the Romford Conservative Association off the face of the Earth.”

Mr Tebbutt, ex-chairman of the Romford Conservative Association (RCA) who left in 2012 during a bitter struggle between the old guard and its younger members, will run for the party in Pettits ward.

Yesterday (Thursday) he reignited his long-standing feud with his former protégée, Mr Rosindell.

“He called me a dinosaur, but dinosaurs are dead. I’m not dead,” he said.

He also took aim at the RCA’s current hierarchy.

“Little conniving kids have taken over the association and deselected councillors who have been there for years,” he added.

“They are destroying the borough. Well, I’m going to blow the roof off.”

On discovering the news, Mr Rosindell denied calling Mr Tebbutt a dinosaur.

He added: “When politicians become bitter and spiteful it shows it is time to leave and do other things with their lives.

“Sadly for Alby he is jeopardising the future of our borough by splitting the votes and allowing the possibility of Labour to come back.”

Ukip leader Lawrence Webb welcomed him to the party: “He will give us a tremendous boost. He’s a very colourful character, and he has a vast amount of experience.

“He will only help us should we get a large number of councillors elected. We are fighting to win.”

For more on the mayor’s switch to Ukip and Mr Tebbutt’s colourful career, click the links on the right.