PARTY branches and unions will start to put forward their nominations for Darlington's Labour candidate next week.

The person chosen to replace Alan Milburn, as the constituency's Labour candidate for next year's General Election, will come from a list of 30 people.

Nominations for the final shortlist start on Monday, November 2, with only those 30 people who have already expressed an interest in the vacancy able to stand.

Details of the shortlist are expected to be announced by the party on November 19. Final hustings and a vote take place on December 5.

Full details of the 30 early candidates are unknown. The Northern Echo understands some of those on the list include Mr Milburn's former researcher and current borough councillor Jenny Chapman, Ferryhill councillor Pat McCourt, the party's national head of communications Roger Baker and Rob Marchant, who stood in the previous elections in Skipton and Ripon.

A number of other tipped candidates have already ruled themselves out of the running.

One candidate - Mr Marchant - has launched an online blog thecentreleft.blogspot.com to reach out to local party members during the selection process.