TONY Blair's local Labour party is attempting to prevent a "lurch to the left" under Gordon Brown by saddling the next prime minister with a Blairite deputy.

Sedgefield constituency party has declared its support for party chairwoman Hazel Blears as Labour's deputy leadership race hots up.

Ms Blears is widely seen as the Blairite candidate, having repeatedly stressed Labour must continue to attract middle class voters and hold the political centre-ground.

Her election - which would almost certainly see her also confirmed as deputy prime minister - would not be popular with Mr Brown, who is thought to favour justice minister Harriet Harman.

Sedgefield's choice is interesting because Mr Blair himself has abstained from the deputy leadership contest, to avoid accusations of being a back-seat driver.

Significantly, Ms Blears is supported by most leading Blairite MPs, including Darlington's Alan Milburn, Home Secretary John Reid and former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers.

Paul Trippett, Sedgefield's deputy chairman, insisted the decision had been taken by a 50-strong meeting of party members, with no input from the prime minister.

However, he added: "We think Hazel Blears is the best choice because we need someone to stick up for the Blair agenda and we believe she will do that.

"The decision was almost unanimous, but was taken by the members alone. Mr Blair's name was not even mentioned."

More than 250 constituency Labour parties (CLPs) have backed one of the six candidates, in the best available test of grassroots opinion.

Elsewhere in the region, four CLPs - Stockton South, Sunderland Central, York and Scarborough and Whitby - have plumped for International Development Secretary Hilary Benn.

The son of Labour legend Tony Benn is the favourite to win, boasting the support of 60 local parties and the biggest trade union, Unity.

Three CLPs - North West Durham, Durham City and the new seat of York Outer - are supporting Education Secretary Alan Johnson.

Ms Harman also has the backing of three of the region's parties, those in Redcar, North Durham and Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Ms Blears also gets the nod from Washington and Sunderland West , but Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and outsider Jon Cruddas have drawn blanks so far.

The winner, to be picked by party members, trade unionists, MPs and Euro-MPs, will be announced at a special conference in Manchester on June 24 - three days before Mr Blair leaves No.10.