A CAMPAIGNING comedian and a former London policeman have joined the race for the Redcar seat at the next General Election.

Jonathan Lehrle, chief of staff to Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram, has been unanimously selected as Tory candidate by Redcar Conservative Association.

Chris McGlade, who made his name as a stand-up comic before leading a campaign against Redcar's Coatham Enclosure plans, will stand as an Independent.

Liberal Democrat Ian Swales has already said he intends to stand against Labour's Vera Baird, elected in 2001 with a 13,443 majority.

Mr McGlade, 40, has attracted support and criticism over his vociferous opposition to plans for a housing and leisure development at Coatham Enclosure.

He said: "Over the years, doing my comedy, I've played everywhere from the Grangetown Social to the Comedy Store in Hollywood, but I always come back because this is my home - it's the area I love.

"I want to stand totally on truth. I may not speak with a college-educated voice and wear a suit, but the main attribute an MP has to have is to love the area they represent.

"Starting the campaign has made me realise I care about the area more than I ever realised.

"I'm just a comedian who wants to be a voice for the average person in the street."

Mr Lehrle, 38, was born in Cumbria and has worked for Mr Ancram since 2001.

A former London police officer and a European Law master's graduate, he was delighted to have been chosen to contest the seat.

He said: "I look forward to taking the Conservative message to the voters of Redcar.

"There is a mood swing throughout the country towards the Conservatives. We see it in the opinion polls and we see it in the way Tony Blair has reacted to the Conservative's strong agenda-setting performance this last few months. He is rattled and it shows."