ELECTION rules forced a wacky DJ nick-named the Jurassic Coast Super Jock to temporarily stop broadcasting on community radio.

Councillor Stuart Hughes is best-known to Herald readers as the county representative for Sidmouth and Sidford.

But Bay FM listeners are more acquainted with him as the host of the ‘Wake up with Huggy’ breakfast show.

Conservative Mr Hughes had to stop broadcasting as a ‘precaution’ because he is standing for re-election next week.

Industry regulator Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code states that candidates in elections ‘must not act as news presenters, interviewers or presenters of any type of programme’ during the election period.

“It’s a weird and wacky music show and totally non political,” said Councillor Hughes. “This is most probably the first time I’ve ever been silenced.”

He said he was ‘totally unaware’ he should not be broadcasting in the run-up to an election.

“I was on there as the Jurassic Coast Super Jock, not Councillor Stuart Hughes’,” he said.

“I’m broadcasting my show to the people of Exmouth, so the people in Sidmouth and Sidford probably can’t even hear it.

“I don’t get paid and I’m putting something back into the community, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

The other candidates standing in the county council elections in the Sidmouth and Sidford division on May 2 are Judy Blackwell (Labour), Martin Gammell (Liberal Democrat), Lawrie Brownlee (UKIP). All respectively said the rules should be adhered to, but they were not concerned by the matter.