LABOUR'S ousted Yorkshire MEP David Bowe plans to continue campaigning for Britain to stay in Europe.

The former Middlesbrough teacher yesterday pledged his "absolute determination to continue promoting the case for Europe and challenging those who seek to lead us into a future of isolation and decline".

Mr Bowe, who was one of the UK's longest serving Euro-MPs, said: "I remain totally committed to the vital role of making the positive case for Europe and exposing the antics and myths perpetrated by increasingly-hysterical anti-Europeans, whether they remain within the Conservative Party or have jumped on the UKIP bandwagon."

First elected as the MEP for Cleveland and North Yorkshire in 1989, Mr Bowe has become recognised as one of the European Parliament's leading members on the environment.

He served as Labour's European environment spokesman and as the party's link person with UK environment ministers. He has played key roles in legislation, ranging from waste management and control of major accident hazards to the control of genetically modified organisms and the safety and testing of chemicals.

With UKIP winning a seat from Labour in the Yorkshire and Humber region, Mr Bowe's days as a Euro MP are, for now, over.

The 48-year-old said: "I am obviously disappointed that I will not be able to continue representing the interests of the region in dealing with the increasingly important role which Europe will play in all our futures."