DURHAM is likely to have its first woman MP after the next General Election, and the successful candidate will probably be called Woods.

Barring a shock swing to the Conservatives, who came a distant third in the 2001 election, the city's Westminster seat should be a fight between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Labour's 700 constituency party members last weekend selected university academic Roberta Woods as their candidate to replace sitting MP Gerry Steinberg, who stands down at the next election after four terms in office.

Ms Woods, a married mother of one, of Nevilles Cross, emerged top from an all-female short-list at a constituency party meeting at New College, last Saturday.

When Mr Steinberg announced his intention to quit, Labour's National Executive named Durham as one of ten constituencies from which a candidate would be selected from women-only shortlists, in a bid to increase female representation in the House of Commons.

Ms Woods beat off the challenge of last year's Durham mayor, city councillor Eileen Rochford, Darlington councillor Lee Vasey and Sunderland education advisor Margaret Meling.

Belfast-born Ms Woods, who chairs the constituency party, is a lecturer at Northumbria University, in New- castle. Following her weekend success, she paid tribute to her fellow candidates for a good campaign which she said focused on the issues surrounding Durham.

"I'm looking forward to working hard for the people of Durham and that work starts now."

Her main rival at the next election is expected to be Liberal Democrat Carol Woods, who finished second behind Mr Steinberg in 2001, reducing his majority from 22,504 in 1997 to 13,441.

Ms Woods has since become one of the party's new intake of city councillors, after the Lib Dems ousted Labour and swept to power at the town hall in last May's local elections.

She is now the city council cabinet member with the finance portfolio.

A Conservative candidate is not expected to be selected for several months. The party's 2001 candidate in Durham, barrister Nick Cartmell, has already announced he has no plans to stand again.