Report by STUART DYE

AN ex-chairman of Cheshire County Council will challenge Middlewich MP Ann Winterton for her seat at the next election.

Congleton's Liberal Democrats this week named David Lloyd-Griffiths as the man who will fight for the seat in 2002.

Clr Lloyd-Griffiths is currently Cheshire County Council's deputy leader, and he is Lib Dem leader on the North West Regional Assembly.

He lives in Sandbach Heath and was first elected to Sandbach Town Council in 1976, the borough council in 1979 and the county council in 1989.

Mr Lloyd-Griffiths said: "I am very proud and delighted to be selected as the prospective parliamentary candidate.

"I believe that with the united support of my colleagues, their local knowledge and my own experience in politics and local government we will together, hopefully, provide an attractive option for consideration by the electorate in Congleton borough.

"I look forward to standing against Ann Winterton with a mixture of relish and trepidation.

"It will be a very hard fight and I do not underestimate the strength of the Conservatives in this area, but I hope to offer another consideration to the electorate.

"There is a third way - our way."

The Congleton seat is traditionally a safe one for the Conservative Party and is currently held by Ann Winterton.

A spokesman for her office said: "Mrs Winterton is very happy to stand against any candidates from the other parties.

"The Conservative Party has a good track record in Congleton borough."

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