THE Green Party has named 14 North-East candidates for this year’s General Election.

That is double the number of candidates the party fielded in 2010 – and 11 more selection processes are underway.

The candidates already confirmed are: Thom Robinson, Bishop Auckland; Paul McNally, Blaydon; Jonathan Elmer, Durham City; Mike Cherrington, Darlington; Martie Warin, Easington; Andy Redfern, Gateshead; Michael Holt, Hartlepool; David Herbert, Jarrow; Alex Johnson, Newcastle Central; Andrew Gray, Newcastle East; Martin Collins, North Tyneside; Mark Shilcock, North West Durham; Shirley Ford, South Shields; Julia Erskine, Tynemouth.

Selection processes are underway in Berwick, Blyth Valley, Hexham, Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Newcastle North, North Durham, Redcar, Sedgefield, Stockton South and Sunderland Central.

Shirley Ford, the party’s co-ordinator for the North-East, said membership of the Green Party in England and Wales had more than doubled in the past year and she wanted to give everyone in the chance to vote Green in May.

It is expected the General Election will be held on Thursday, May 7.