The Conservatives are recruiting eastern Europeans to play illegal immigrants in a party political broadcast less than a week after William Hague signed a pledge not to play the "race card" during the run-up to a general election.

Conservative central office faxes, published on the Guardian's website, offer likely candidates £1,000 per day. The Tories are also seeking a range of other characters, including a "French barman", a male fruit vendor and three old women.