THE winner of the race to succeed Labour Party favourite Mo Mowlam may not be known until the new year.

Party officials in Dr Mowlam's Redcar constituency are braced for a flood of interest in replacing the minister who built up a majority of more than 21,000 for Labour.

A party spokesman said: "It's bound to generate widespread local and national interest."

But he stressed that nothing would happen until after Labour's party conference in two weeks' time.

The whole process would take about three months, with the 500 or so local party members unlikely to make a decision before Christmas.

Former Newcastle councillor Darren Murphy, aide to Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn, has hinted he may be interested in the nomination.

But Redcar and Cleveland council leader David Walsh has denied continuing speculation that he could be a candidate.

"Turning round the council is a big job, and there is still a lot to do," said Coun Walsh, who indicated he would not be seeking 'new horizons.'