The Tamworth by-election triggered by the resignation of the former Tory whip Chris Pincher will be held on Thursday October 19, it has been confirmed.

Mr Pincher, who had represented the constituency since 2010, resigned earlier this month after losing an appeal against a suspension for drunkenly groping two men.

The by-election in his Staffordshire seat will take place on the same day as the contest for former culture secretary Nadine Dorries’ Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

At the last general election in 2019, Mr Pincher, standing for the Conservatives, held the seat with a majority of 19,634, but he had sat as an independent MP since July 2022.

Tamworth Borough Council confirmed the date on Wednesday.

It said that residents who are registered to vote will start to receive poll cards from September 23, with the deadline to register to vote in the by-election on October 3.

The full list of candidates will be available from September 25, the council said.