FORMER councillor Stephen Allison has been selected to fight the Hartlepool by-election for the UK Independence Party (Ukip).

Mr Allison, 44, from Hartlepool, was last night selected by local members from a shortlist of three, which also included farmer and fuel protestor Andrew Spence and party activist Christine Williamson.

Mr Allison said: "The people of Hartlepool have had a raw deal from the Labour party for many, many years and they are ready for a change."

He joins four candidates selected to contest the seat being vacated by Europe-bound Peter Mandelson.

Barrister and mother-of-four Jody Dunn, 35, was the first to enter the race for the Liberal Democrats, and she has been followed by local councillor and accountant Iain Wright, 32, for Labour, and care worker John Bloom, 39, who represents Respect, the Unity Coalition.

It was revealed yesterday that former soldier Jim Starkey, 54, originally from Sunderland but now living in Oxfordshire, will stand for the National Front. The Tories have yet to decide on a candidate, and the British National Party said yesterday it is considering entering the contest.