ONE of the region's few Conservative MPs has been formally re-adopted to fight his seat at the next general election.

James Wharton, one of just two Conservative MPs in the North-East, will fight the seat again next time.

He was unanimously readopted at the Annual General Meeting of Stockton Conservatives on Saturday, March 23.

Mr Wharton said: “I look forward to fighting the next election in the area I call my home.”

Labour are expected to choose their candidate for the parliamentary seat, from an all-women shortlist, in the coming months.

Stockton South is one of the most marginal seats in the country. Mr Wharton won by just 332 votes in 2010. The next general election is expected in 2015.

Councillor Ken Lupton, leader of the Conservatives on Stockton council, was appointed as chairman of the town's Conservative association.