THE Conservative candidate for the job of mayor of Hartlepool is facing calls to resign from party members following a row over her selection.

Hartlepool's Conservative Association voted unanimously not to submit a candidate for the mayoral elections at a meeting last month.

But, following a last-minute intervention by Tory head office in London, Brenda Pearson, chairwoman of the Hartlepool branch, was put forward to stand.

Local party members were furious over the move and have called on Mrs Pearson to resign in a letter signed by more than 20 members.

Councillor George Morris, who is vice-chairman of the association, wrote the letter, which was signed by six member of the party's executive committee.

He said Mrs Pearson's selection, which was approved on April 6, the day before nominations closed, had taken place without the consent of the local party.

Coun Morris said: "We do not accept Mrs Pearson as the candidate and consider the manner in which this situation was created as improper."

Mrs Pearson, who originally voted against putting up a candidate for the May 5 election on the grounds that the party opposed the mayoral system, said she had taken the decision to run for mayor to give voters in the town a more democratic choice.

She said: "Until we have the opportunity to change the system, the people of Hartlepool should be given a real choice to vote for a credible mayor."