THE UKIP conference kicked off in Torquay yesterday with the news the former party leader is back in the race for the party's leadership.

Former leader Nigel Farage threw his hat into the party's leadership contest on the first morning of the two-day conference at the English Riviera Conference Centre.

He stood down from the leadership as he tried to fight to become the MP for Buckingham earlier this year.

His campaign hit the national headlines when he had a miracle escape from a plane crash during the general election in May.

The party's last leader, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, quit last month saying he was "not much good" at party politics.

Mr Farage said he asked delegates assembled in Torquay whether they wanted him to stand for the leadership and they had responded enthusiastically.

He is frontrunner to win the leadership contest.

Fellow MEP David Campbell Bannerman has also declared himself as a candidate.

Speaking to the Herald Express following his announcement, Mr Farage said he made his final decision to stand over breakfast yesterday morning.

He said: "I haven't taken this decision lightly. I have agonised over this."

He said he knew Torquay and Paignton well as a friend and colleague of former South West MEP Graham Booth, who owned the Torbay Motel.

"It's good to be back," he said. The conference ends today.