The first full day proper of electioneering got underway in Sussex yesterday with a visit from a frontbencher.

Chris Huhne, the Lib Dems' home affairs spokesman, was joined on the campaign trail by Eastbourne candidate Stephen Lloyd, Hove candidate Paul Elgood and Lewes MP Norman Baker, the party's transport spokesman.

The day of campaigning was also the official launch of the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the South East.

Eastbourne has been targeted by the Lib Dems as a key seat to take from the Conservatives. Boundary changes for this year have also benefited the party.

Mr Lloyd said: “The entire national media has woken up to the fact that Eastbourne is one of our most likely seats to win from the Conservatives and we had good national media coverage.”

The Lib Dem candidate added that since the election was officially called on Tuesday, local activists have stepped up the campaigning.

In the last five days, he said, workers had distributed 48,000 leaflets and delivered 25,000 letters.

He added: “The boundary changes have favoured us. There is just over 750 between us notionally, and the national party sees this as a key battle.”