Montgomeryshire's Liberal Democrats say they are "saddened" by comments criticising the party from a former MP for the area.

Lembit Opik, Montgomeryshire MP between 1997 and 2010, was expelled from the Liberal Democrats this week - although he has appealed.

Mr Opik's expulsion comes after he appeared as a special guest at an online Conservative Party event hosted in March entitled "How to stop the Lib Dems - an insider's guide", featuring alongside Conservative MP Chris Grayling.

Quoted in advertising material for the event, for which tickets were available at between £6-£12, Mr Opik said the party had become a "parody of itself," and that it had a "disregard for personal liberty".

"I gravitate towards common sense and liberty. Sadly, If the modern day Lib Dem party has its way, there’ll be a deficit of both in Councils, constituencies and the Commons," he was quoted as saying.

"I’m keen to share my thoughts on a cure for this malaise, as there’s currently no vaccine against stupidity."

Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrat chair Alison Alexander said she the former MP's comments do not chime with her view of the party locally or nationally.

"Many people here in Montgomeryshire have fond memories of all the good that Liberal and Liberal Democrat MPs and MSs did for this constituency and I think they’ll find his actions and comments very sad," she said.

"As far as I’m aware Lembit Opik has had nothing to do with the Montgomeryshire or Welsh Liberal Democrats since 2010. The people I campaign with here are committed to Liberal values of freedom, fairness, inclusiveness.

"We’re all really working hard because we believe in creating a society that works for everyone and protects the least advantaged. I genuinely don’t recognise the party Opik criticises.

"Now more than ever we need a socially liberal voice standing up for our constituents, willing to fight for jobs and investment, the environment and for rural communities whose way of life is under attack by Tories locally trying to close our schools and Tories nationally striking trade deals that could put our family farms out of business."