AN ELECTION candidate has denied claims that she failed to pay rent to her former landlord.

Glen Franklin has taken Liberal Democrat election hopeful Jody Dunn to court over money he says she owes him for a flat she rented during last September's Hartlepool by-election.

But Ms Dunn, who finished second in the by-election and is hoping to win the seat from Labour in next week's General Election, dismissed the allegations as "nonsense".

Mr Franklin, from Billingham, Teesside, claims she owes him about £1,400 in unpaid rent.

Ms Dunn said she signed a three-month contract for the flat, in Hartlepool Marina, and paid rent for that period. She said she never intended to stay after that date.

She also said she sent a text message to her former landlord following the by-election, terminating her contract.

Mr Franklin said he did not receive the text and thought Ms Dunn was still living in the property for several weeks after the election.

The civil case has already been before a Teesside court, where Ms Dunn was ordered to pay £1,451.86 in unpaid rent.

Ms Dunn, who said the original judgement was only entered because she failed to submit her defence in time, applied to have the case set aside. But after failing to turn up for a court appearance in Newcastle last week, the motion was struck out by a judge in chambers.

Ms Dunn, a trained barrister, said she intends to fight the judgement after the election. Mr Franklin was unavailable for comment.