A LIBERAL Democrat will stand as a councillor in Teesdale for the first time in a forthcoming by-election.
Mike Newlands will battle it out against Labour, Conservative and independent candidates for the vacant Barnard Castle East ward of the new unitary authority.
The seat was made vacant by Tory councillor Jo Fergus, who died aged 77 on March 29, just days before the new council came into effect.
Mr Newlands, a freelance journalist from Barnard Castle, has been a member of the Liberal Democrats for a number of years but has never stood as a councillor.
Barnard Castle Town Councillor and former Teesdale District Councillor Tony Cooke will stand as an independent candidate while Labour will be represented by Sharon Longcroft.
James Rowlandson, who stood as an independent candidate against Mrs Fergus in the initial election, will stand as a Conservative candidate in the by-election, which will take place at the same time as the European elections on June 4.
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