A JOURNALIST is to contest the Durham County Council seat made vacant by the death of Councillor Tony Moore.

John Smith, of Mafeking Place, Shildon, will stand as an independent candidate for the Shildon North East ward.

The area encompasses half of Shildon, a roughly equal part of Newton Aycliffe and the village of Middridge.

Mr Moore, a popular independent councillor, died of a heart attack last month.

Like Mr Moore, Mr Smith is a former member of the Labour Party.

He said: "Tony will be a hard act to follow, but if elected I will try to carry on the good work that he did."

Mr Smith, a Yorkshireman, is married to Sedgefield independent councillor Ina Smith and works for Shildon's community newspaper, The Record.

Nominations for the election, on June 7, close on May 10. Two other candidates have so far been nominated for the seat: James William Dale Trotter, of Staindrop, will stand as a Conservative candidate; and Keith Henderson, of Woodham, is the Labour Party candidate.