A LIST of seven candidates was announced last night to contest the seat of Durham North for the Labour Party.

Labour's national executive committee in London will consider the list of candidates over the next few days and compile a shortlist of candidates to be announced on Monday.

The shortlist will then be subject to a one-member, one-vote selection ballot by the 700 members of the Durham North Labour Party on March 10.

Leading Newcastle city councillor and senior GMBU official Kevan Jones remains the favourite to succeed Giles Radice, who is retiring at the General Election, expected to be held in May.

Initially, 19 candidates declared their desire to stand for the party nomination for Durham North, a seat which returned a Labour majority of 26,299 in 1997.

Other North-East candidates on the list include Bishop Auckland College lecturer Stephen Lambert and Easington district councillor David Taylor-Gooby.

Darlington borough councillor Lee Vasey, who unsuccessfully attempted to win the nomination for Redcar when Mo Mowlam stood down, is included alongside Chester-le-Street councillor John Adey.

Also included on the list are Catherine Grundy, a councillor from the West Midlands, and Raj Mistry, a London-based councillor.