IT is 25 years since Warrington's place in political history was sealed, the most famous by-election last century took place in the town.

And one Labour party campaigner is still making waves on the political scene today.

The eventual winner of the seat Doug Hoyle, now Lord Hoyle, recalled this week that Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had been short-listed to stand as a Labour Party candidate for the Warrington North seat back in 1981.

But she lost out to Mr Hoyle, now chairman of Warrington Wolves.

Lord Hoyle said: "She was involved in the campaign and had indeed been short-listed as a candidate for the seat but I was fortunate to get the call. I think Warrington would have benefited from either of us."

The election made the national and international headlines when Roy Jenkins, a former Labour chancellor, stood as a candidate for the newly formed Social Democrat Party, which eventually paved the way for the creation of the Liberal Democrat party.

After a closely fought battle, Labour held on to the seat with a majority of less than 2,000.

Lord Hoyle, who was MP for the constituency until he stepped down in 1997, added: "We weren't only talking about Warrington nationally but internationally as well.

"The election brought me to Warrington and I must say, it was the finest thing to ever happen as it enabled me to come to the town and be part of a community which was growing and transforming. I am very proud to have been part of that change and something so historic.

"That by-election was the most famous of the last century."

hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk