MIDDLESBROUGH mayor Ray Mallon last night ruled himself out of the race to replace Peter Mandelson as Hartlepool MP - but revealed that he does want to become a Labour MP.

His statement ended days of speculation linking him to a return to the town where he made his name pioneering zero-tolerance policing.

Although sorely tempted by the idea of fighting the by-election, Mr Mallon has decided to see out the remainder of his five years as mayor.

He told The Northern Echo that quitting his £55,000-a-year job now would leave him open to allegations of "treachery and opportunism".

Mr Mallon said: "I was elected by the people of Middlesbrough to serve a five-year term as elected mayor. I intend to see that term out.

"The people of Hartlepool have done a great deal for me over the years and this would have been a great opportunity to repay them, but my commitment is to Middlesbrough.

"I believe we are making excellent progress in Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley and it would be inappropriate for me to consider a change of direction."

But he added: "However, I make no secret of the fact that it is possible in the future that I will stand as an MP. The only two seats that are attractive to me are Hartlepool and Middlesbrough."

He was elected mayor in 2002 as an independent, but said: "Clearly, if I was to consider standing as an MP then it would be necessary to join a political party on the basis that an independent MP would have no influence."

He indicated that Labour would be his party of choice.

But as Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell has already been re-selected to fight the next General Election, Mr Mallon may have to wait until 2010 before he gets another opportunity.

Mr Mandelson, Britain's new European Commissioner, had a majority of 14,571. Labour is drawing up a shortlist of candidates, and the LibDems hope to select their candidate tonight.

But it now appears that the chances of former TV presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk contesting the town for the UK Independence Party are receding.

This is being put down to a clash of personalities in the party plus, like Mr Mallon, he does not want to be seen to be deserting the East Midlands constituents who elected him as their MEP in June.