CONSERVATIVES have announced their candidate to fight a strong Labour seat in the next election.

Richard Bell, 41, from Eggleston, Teesdale, will contest the Bishop Auckland seat in the next General Election, which is expected to be in May.

The seat has been held for 25 years by Labour MP Derek Foster, who had a 13,926 majority at the last election.

Mr Bell, a laboratory manager at GlaxoSmithKline, said he was looking forward to contesting the seat.

He said: "Derek's well entrenched, having been there for 25 years, but we think we can give him a good run for his money.

"Many of the issues locally are the same as those on a national level, such as taxation, spending and value for money."

Mr Bell, a Teesdale District Councillor, is the son of a Teesdale farmer and is married to artist Anne Mason.

The couple have two children, Anthony, five, and John, three.