THE dramatic surge in support for the Liberal Democrats is being reflected at local level, according to the party's candidate in Central Devon.

With national opinion polls showing the Liberal Democrats in second place, candidate Phil Hutty says he has been 'taken aback' by the support he has received and that the possibility of a hung parliament was being raised by voters.

But Conservative Mel Stride says a hung parliament would mean 'potential disaster' for the country.

Central Devon is a newly created constituency and figures based on the last general election suggest a notional Tory majority of 2,338.

Mr Hutty claimed this week that Conservative voters were swinging his way.

He said: 'The hung parliament has come up along with a number of other issues, but mostly people's concern is trying to make sense of what the Conservatives are saying, which is how awful it would be.

'What we are saying is it needn't be — you have to talk things through rather that shouting people down.

'People's issues vary, there has been a lot about pensions and education, but I wouldn't say those are on the forefront of people's minds — the main issue remains the economy.'

Mr Hutty said he was pleased with the number of hustings held in the town: 'In Okehampton we've had three and we are going to have a fourth.

'There are loads of them around and it's really encouraging because it's good people want to get involved and that they are concerned about politics.'

Conservative Mel Stride said the main issue in Okehampton was over-development: 'What we need is local affordable housing for local people in the communities that need it, not large scale disproportionate development in Okehampton.'

He said the recent decision by West Devon Borough Council to approve the core strategy and development plans, was one he would fight against all the way.

He added: 'I have demonstrated my clear commitment to standing up for Okehampton on this issue and if elected I will continue the battle from within our parliament.'

And Mr Stride claimed a hung parliament would mean 'potential disaster' for the country.

'Our massive indebtedness means that we are on the brink of a Greek-style economic collapse and the need now is for a stable and strong government, not some unstable coalition resulting from backroom deals between Gordon Brown and the minority parties in which party leaders throw away their manifesto commitments in order to carve up power.

'We need a clear Conservative majority to secure our economic future.'

Labour's Moira Macdonald said people wanted to see some big changes in Central Devon.

She said: 'I think people are getting fairly fed up with the first past the post and that a change in the way we do elections would be welcomed.

'There are a large number of people who say they are undecided and when I ask is this because of local or national issues, they say national issues, and deeper, it is because they don't like the Tories'

Mrs Macdonald said she found it interesting how well the Liberal Democrats were doing.

She added: 'It's finally made this election catch alight and I welcome that.'

Bob Edwards, of the UK Independence Partty, has also raised the issue of housing development.

He said: 'One of the big problems is over housing and it seems local councillors are bypassed and told to get on with it.'

Mr Edwards said he believed in friendship, trade and co-operation with neighbours, but felt strongly that people should govern themselves.

A fifth candidate has joined the battle to represent Central Devon. He is the Green Party's Colin Matthews, 32, who previously stood for parliament in the old Tiverton and Honiton constituency. He is the managing director of a local social enterprise co-operative and is also studying leadership in social enterprise.

Mr Matthews says it is unfair that young people are 'demonised' for hanging around on streets, when they have nowhere else to go.

'I will pledge to double spending on youth services, spending an extra £1-billion a year so that our local council can provide a variety of activities that give young people fun and affordable things to do, as well as to fund local young people's centres for them to meet and be creative.'