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UKIP has hit back after Green Party members claimed that Metro Mayor candidate Aaron Foot has copied its branding format.

A UKIP spokesperson has said members are “horrified” to be associated with a party “whose contribution to culture is the recipe for knitted yoghurt".

They have also openly mocked the Green’s policies and claim that the party believes “unicorns should be provided on the NHS” and “houses can be built with wishes”.

The row erupted on Wednesday when the official candidate handbook for the West of England Metro Mayor election on May 4 was released.

Members of the Green Party quickly suggested that branding elements from their 2015 General Election campaign had been used by UKIP candidate Aaron Foot in his Metro Mayor candidate page.

And several took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

Dan Johnston said: "Looks like UKIP's Aaron Foot has been reading the Green Party's brand guidelines."

The alleged likeness prompted the national Green Party press office to issue a formal statement on the matter.

A party spokesperson said: “At the Green Party we have always prided ourselves on our striking design work but it was a surprise to see our brand guidelines being so closely followed by a UKIP candidate rather than a Green.

“In this case, it appears the only difference between our leaflets and UKIP’s is that the Green Party ones contain sensible policies.

“It would be great if UKIP’s candidate adopted our stance as well as our design, and stopped blaming the failure of Government policy on migrants.

“If UKIP wants to borrow some policies that would truly make a difference to people’s lives, we suggest providing decent social care, building affordable homes and taking action on climate change.”

Now UKIP has hit back with its own withering retort.

A party spokesperson said: “They say that the sincerest form of flattery is imitation, but you can trust us we were horrified by any similarities with the Greens.

“Who would want to associate with a party who seem to think houses can be built with wishes, unicorns should be provided on the NHS and whose contribution to culture is the recipe for knitted yoghurt."

Six candidates are standing in the Weca Metro Mayor election – Tim Bowles, Conservative Party, Aaron Foot, UKIP; Darren Hall, Green Party; Lesley Mansell, Labour Party; John Savage, independent and Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat.

The Bristol Post has asked Mr Foot and Mr Hall for a comment.