A prospective Tory councillor has been punched while campaigning in Essex.

Carla Hales said she had ‘nothing broken but some sore ribs and [a] slightly bruised ego’ after the attack on Wednesday.

Mrs Hales said she would take a ‘couple of days off campaigning’, but was well enough to go to work.

She added that she heard the man who punched her say ‘f***ing Tory bitch’ or ‘f*** off, Tory bitch’.

Carla Hales (right) said she had ‘nothing broken but some sore ribs and [a] slightly bruised ego’ after the attack on Wednesday

Colchester’s Tory MP Will Quince said Mrs Hales (pictured) was ‘in good spirits and intends to be back out campaigning soon’

Colchester Borough Council’s Conservative group leader Darius Laws said: ‘This is the ugly side of politics and it is an attack not just on a Conservative but an attack on democracy.

'It is an attack on everyone who seeks to put their name forward to stand up for their community.’

Colchester’s Tory MP Will Quince said Mrs Hales was ‘in good spirits and intends to be back out campaigning soon’.

Essex Police confirmed officers were investigating an assault alleged to have happened at about 4pm on Wednesday in Bourne Road, Colchester.

The force said that a woman in her 40s reported that a man had verbally abused her and punched her to the side, and inquiries were continuing.