THE Tories have unveiled their new challenger for the potentially crucial Warrington South seat in the next General Election.

David Mowat, aged 50, said he felt honoured and excited' after being chosen as prospective parliamentary candidate by the Warrington South Conservative Association on Saturday.

In his first interview, Mr Mowat told the Warrington Guardian his key campaign issues would be: affordable housing, jobs, the health service and schools.

He said: "In terms of the number of children achieving five or more GCSEs and the levels attained at Key Stages two and three, schools here are around five per cent better than the national average.

"So someone is doing well but that's not to say that we can't do better.

"We believe hospitals and schools would be better if they were controlled less from the centre and more by the doctors and nurses and teachers in them.

"We would leave things more to the professionals."

A retired father-of-four, Mr Mowatt said his time would be divided between his south Warrington office and Fairbridge children's charity in Salford, which he chairs.

"I plan to be here three or four days a week," he said. "In the past people in certain parts perhaps haven't seen enough of a Conservative presence and that's got to change.

"The party believes it will be very hard for David Cameron to become Prime Minister without Warrington South going to the Conservatives."

Mr Mowat, who lives in Wilmslow but worked in Warrington in the 1990s for Accenture, was selected by a panel of association members and community volunteers from a shortlist of eight.

Chairman Ken Scates said he was delighted' with the calibre of applicants and said Mr Mowat would make an excellent' MP.