A Sussex Conservative candidate for the next general election reportedly claimed she healed a man’s hearing through the power of prayer.

Kristy Adams has been chosen to represent the Conservatives in Mid Sussex at the election, which is expected to take place in May or the autumn of next year.

Mrs Adams previously stood as the Tory candidate in Hove in 2017, placing a distant second behind Labour MP Peter Kyle.

However, in a recording from 2010 obtained by the Daily Mirror, the Conservative hopeful reportedly told the King’s Arms Church in Bedford how she healed a deaf man by placing her hands over his ears and saying: “Be healed in Jesus's name”.

Mrs Adams is reported to have said: "He had hearing aids in both ears and I just thought that wasn't right. It just annoyed me.

"I said 'can I pray for you?' and his eyes lit up, which is unusual when you offer to pray for someone's healing."

After removing her hands, she claims the man could hear without his hearing aids.

"I don't know if he was more surprised or me," she reportedly said.

Speaking to The Argus during her 2017 election campaign, Mrs Adams said she had asked the Daily Mirror to remove a story about the alleged recording but refused to answer whether she believed non-scientific medical miracles can happen.

She said: “Millions of Christians around the world pray every day to help people.”

Boundary changes will see the redrawn Mid Sussex constituency cover Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Hassocks and Pyecombe.

Mims Davies, the current Conservative MP for the constituency, will stand as a candidate for the new East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency at the next general election.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Davies said: “Huge congratulations to my friend and local girl Kristy, who has been selected as PPC (prospective parliamentary candidate) after a tough battle and hard-fought fight for an amazing new constituency of Mid Sussex.

“She is loyal, hard-working, kind, focused and her dedication to the area is unmatched.”

Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, also praised Ms Adams and said: “Residents of Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Sayers Common and the downland villages are in great hands with Kristy Adams as the parliamentary candidate for Mid Sussex at the next general election.”

Ms Adams will be competing against Alison Bennett, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on Mid Sussex District Council, at the election next year.

Labour has yet to select a candidate for the constituency.

A polling forecast by Electoral Calculus projects the Conservatives will hold Mid Sussex with a reduced majority of just over 700 votes.

The election forecaster puts the Conservatives’ chance of winning in the constituency at 45 per cent, with Labour at 37 per cent and the Liberal Democrats with an 18 per cent chance.

Kristy Adams has been contacted for comment.