Pensioners should clean the streets to earn extra cash, a Conservative candidate for the next election has said.

Gordon Henderson, who will challenge the Sittingbourne and Sheppey seat, made the suggestion while helping a local council team clean unwanted items from houses in the area.

“I am sure there are pensioners out there who would be delighted to earn a few extra quid and at the same time keep their street clean and tidy,” he said.

“I think we have to take a new approach to cleaning up our neighbourhoods.

“One way might be for local authorities to employ pensioners for a few hours each week to keep their own street and alley clean and free of weeds.”