UKIP leader Nigel Farage said a decision by David Cameron to deliver a speech in Suffolk on the same day as he visited the county was a “compliment” and testament to his party’s increased political clout.

And, like the Prime Minister, it was the issue of immigration that Mr Farage honed in on, claiming that uncontrolled migration had already created non-English speaking “ghettos” in parts of East Anglia.

Mr Farage, who appeared last night at the community centre in Brandon in the first of a series of ‘road shows’ ahead of the County Elections on May 2, said border control was “a local election issue” and would form part of the party’s Suffolk campaign.

He added: “We should, not only, not be part of this European Union, but, we must absolutely get control of our borders back so we decide who comes to live, settle and work in our country.”

Mr Farage said that expected increased migration from countries such as Romania and Bulgaria next year is a “real issue.”

He added: “Because it is local councils that will have to be provide services and social housing. If we have huge numbers of people come to our country, dispersed across every county. That’s a real issue.

The UKIP leader had previously told the meeting of more than 200 that he had been “flabbergasted” to see “ghettoes” in Peterborough and Lincoln caused - he claimed - by an out of control migration policy.

Mr Farage said to help people reconnect with local politics, a UKIP county council would offer a referendum on any issues where it was felt the best interests of the community were not being served.

He added that almost a ‘full slate’ of candidates would be pushing for a seat in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and he was hopeful of a breakthrough.