SO many people have been nominated to be Labour's mayoral candidate in a North-East town that the party is delaying its selection process.

Shortlists of candidates have already been drawn up for Hartlepool and North Tyneside.

But as many as 20 people on Teesside want to challenge Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough on May 2, so Labour's timetable has been derailed.

The three constituencies will be the first in the North-East to choose their council leader directly through the ballot box.

Neither the Conservatives nor the Liberal Democrats expect to make progress on choosing their candidates until well into the New Year, but Labour has already drawn up its shortlists, which local members will be voting on in the next fortnight.

Labour's mayoral candidates for Hartlepool and North Tyneside will be formally declared on December 21.

It was hoped that Middlesbrough's candidate would be announced on the same day, but a party spokesman said that had now been delayed until mid-January.

"We are very excited by the number of people who are interested in being Labour's candidate in Middlesbrough," said a spokesman.

"This is a sign of the vibrancy of the Middlesbrough Labour Party and people's desire to build a better Middlesbrough," he added.

About 600 Labour members in Hartlepool are now voting on the shortlist.

On the list are Councillor Robbie Payne, the chief whip of the Hartlepool Labour Group; Coun Moss Boddy, the secretary of the Labour Group; Coun Russell Hart, the leader of the Labour Group and formerly council leader; Keith Fisher, the president of Hartlepool Labour Party, and businessman Leo Gillen.

It would appear that Coun Hart and Mr Gillen are the early favourites.

The 1,200 Labour members in North Tyneside have to choose between Councillor Rita Stringfellow, the leader of the council; Coun Ian Grayson; Coun Jim Allan and Coun Eddie Darke, deputy leader of the council.