The leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett, is to visit Redhill next week for a fundraising dinner.

Ms Bennett, a former journalist and agricultural scientist, who was elected leader of The Green Party of England and Wales last September, will be the guest speaker at a dinner for Reigate and Banstead Green Party.

She said: "I saw on my last visit to Redhill how the Green Party here has presented a fresh, positive vision of how we can build a jobs-rich, low-carbon economy, which meets the needs of the community.”

She said: “We have a real chance of getting our first councillor on Surrey County Council in May.   “Membership of the Green Party is growing fast, including here in Surrey, and I look forward to meeting local members and supporters during my visit."

Ms Bennett was editor of the Guardian Weekly from 2007 until 2012, and was previously its deputy editor.

She also worked at The Times and other British and international newspapers. She has worked as a United Nations consultant in Asia on women’s and children’s issues, and has an academic background in agricultural science.

The dinner will take place at Mela in Linkfield Street, Redhill, next Wednesday (February 13) at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced £25 per person, and £12.50 for children, for a three- course Indian meal, with drinks not included. All proceeds will go to Reigate and Banstead Green Party. To reserve a place call 01737 214861 or email: info@rbgp.org.uk