The private email addresses of hundreds of Croydon people have been leaked in a blunder by Zac Goldsmith's mayoral campaign.

Organisers of the Conservative candidate's "town hall" event in Addiscombe tonight sent a mass email yesterday to people who had successfully applied for tickets.

But Mr Goldsmith's aides failed to used to the "blind copy" function to hide the addresses - revealing them to everyone included in the mailing.

The email from the "BackZac2016 Team", seen by the Croydon Guardian, assures recipients that "that the name of any guests mentioned have been added to the door list" for tonight's event at Clyde Hall.

One recipient responded to the email: “I do object to everyone's email addresses being made available rather than bcc. Your action means my private email address - and that of all the other invitees - is now an open secret.”

If elected as Mayor, Mr Goldsmith has promised to appoint a chief data officer for the capital to “to ensure as much London data as possible… is open-access and easily accessible” – although it is unlikely the email gaffe was part of his strategy.

The blunder capped a low day in the mayoral campaign of the Richmond Park MP.

EARLIER TODAY: Booted out: Zac Goldsmith asked to resign as patron of Richmond charity after voting for disability benefit cuts

He was forced to resign as patron of the Richmond Advice and Information on Disability earlier today after voting to cut the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - a move charities and Tory rebels warned will make it more difficult for disabled people to get into work.

In yesterday's budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced there would be more than £4bn worth of cuts to personal independence payments for disabled people by 2020.

Croydon Disabled People Against Cuts gathered outside Clyde Hall ahead of tonight's meeting to protest against Mr Goldsmith's stance.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Ellen Clifford, an organiser with the group, said: "We think it's time to say enough is enough in terms of making disabled people pay for the regneration of the economy. What kind of society regenerates its economy on the back of its most vulnerable members?

"We have seen the impact of welfare reform, we have seen people die."

Ms Clifford, 38, who suffers from a mental health condition, believed Mr Goldsmith's vote to cut ESA essentially disqualified him gaining the support of disabled people.

She said: "He voted through that measure, so why would any disabled person vote for him?"

Mr Goldsmith’s campaign team has been approached for a comment.

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