FORMER General Election candidate Paul Campbell will attempt to win the Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft ward for the Conservatives in the borough council elections in May.

Paul Campbell, Culcheth resident and retired police officer, has been selected to stand for the ward after Clr Les Hoyle retired last week.

Paul served as a borough councillor for Penketh and Cuerdley between 2008 and 2012 and was also the parliamentary candidate in the 2010 General Election and has been a parish councillor on Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council since 2004, taking up the role as Chairman in 2007.

He says: “As a local resident, it is a great honour to be selected and offered the opportunity to serve the residents of Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft.

“Les will be missed as a borough councillor, but I am glad he will still be around as a Parish Councillor to continue to provide his wisdom and support in the future.

“I know many of the residents and have many friends in the ward, so I am looking forward to canvassing the views of as many people as possible over the next few months.”

Retiring Les Hoyle added: “Paul has the kind of experience needed to fulfill such a role, experience which can only benefit the people of the Ward and he has my full support in the campaign ahead.”

Chris Vobe, Labour councillor for the area, said: "The selection of Paul Campbell tells people all they need to know about the Conservative Party.

"The man who claims to want to make Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft “the best place to live in Warrington” is the same man who pledged devotion to the communities of Rixton, Woolston, Penketh and Cuerdley, as well as serving on the town's West Neighbourhood Board.

"The people I represent know that the Tory candidate is just using our area as a stepping stone in his political ambitions, and we deserve better.

“Labour will fight this election on our record of delivering for all three villages and look forward to making our case in the months ahead."

Parish councillor Matt Smith will stand for Labour in the ward.