SENIOR UKIP figures in Worcestershire have backed Nigel Farage's leadership about-turn - with one parliamentary candidate calling his resignation "a mistake".

The UKIP leader is back in charge after his party's decision-making National Executive Committee (NEC) rejected his bid to quit in the wake of his defeat in South Thanet.

Mr Farage kept his word and resigned after failing to become an MP last week, but decided on a bizarre change of heart after the NEC refused to accept it.

James Goad, who fought the Worcester parliamentary seat for UKIP, said: "I would have liked him to have stepped away for the summer, because his back's in a shocking state, recharge his batteries and then maybe chuck his hat in the ring again.

"But I'm pleased he's back, the NEC decision sounds somewhat unusual but Nigel is the man, he's built our party up and has those leadership credentials.

"It was a mistake (to announce he would quit if he failed to become an MP) because it gave his opponents an added incentive."

James Carver, a UKIP MEP for Worcestershire, said: "What's clear is that the response from many people, including from those outside the party, is that they wanted him to stay.

"Irrespective of what was said or wasn't said before, Nigel reaches out to parts of the electorate who agree with everything he says - the only reason he lost in South Thanet is because Labour voters teamed up with the Conservatives.

"If Nigel stood in Worcester the same thing would have happened, it was Nigel versus the establishment.

"We're not a 'one man band' at all but I've had a number of phone calls from people outside the party who are pleased he is staying."

Richard Chamings, who finished runner-up in the West Worcestershire parliamentary contest for UKIP, said: "He said he'd stand down if he lost, which he did.

"But there's no doubt he's shown great leadership and people seem to either love him or hate him, in our party they love him."

Mr Farage had repeatedly promised to step down if he failed to win the seat, saying it would be "curtains for me" if UKIP had MPs in the Commons and he was not one of them.

UKIP won 3.8 million votes in last week's General Election - more than both the Lib Dems and SNP combined - but only gained one MP, Douglas Carswell.