A FORMER North-East MEP announced last night that he would like to succeed Peter Mandelson as MP for Hartlepool.

The race to be involved in the high-profile by-election is hotting up as the Liberal Democrats draw up their shortlist of candidates tonight, while the UK Independence Party's negotiations with former TV presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk continue.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon is yet to formally rule himself out of the running.

The biggest speculation surrounds the Labour contenders to defend Mr Mandelson's 14,571 majority.

"I am exploring how to get my name put forward," said David Bowe, who was elected Cleveland MEP in 1989 and who lost his Yorkshire European seat in June. "I was in Hartlepool on Saturday talking to old friends and colleagues. I think I have a body of support I can build upon and for me it would be like coming home."

Gateshead-born Mr Bowe, who was a Middlesbrough councillor for six years before becoming an MEP specialising in environmental affairs, said the importance of Hartlepool retaining its hospital would be a major plank of his manifesto.

There is also speculation that Joe Docherty, the chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, might stand for Labour. "I have been approached by a number of people but I am not commenting on speculation," said Mr Docherty, a Glaswegian whose organisation is involved in the redevelopment of Middlehaven, in Middlesbrough, and Victoria Harbour, in Hartlepool.

Also in the Labour frame are Mr Mandelson's researcher, Patrick Diamond, and former local Labour Group leader Moss Boddy.

The Northern Echo understands that the party will not impose a women-only shortlist on the constituency.

Instead, the party's National Executive Committee will draw up a shortlist from which local members will select the candidate. Mr Mallon, who started his police career in Hartlepool, is thought "highly unlikely" to stand.

But Mr Kilroy-Silk will not confirm his candidature until Mr Mallon rules himself out, as a clash between two celebrity-politicians would be to neither's benefit.

Mr Kilroy-Silk, currently holidaying in Spain, is insisting that he runs his own campaign in Hartlepool, although Ukip is already organising a team in the town.

Among the hopefuls for the LibDems' shortlist is barrister Jody Beveridge, a mother-of-four, who lives in Gainford. She specialises in family law with chambers in Middlesbrough and her second book, How to Help the Children Survive the Divorce, is published next year.

Businessman Gus Robinson, who came second behind Mr Mandelson in the last General Election for the Conseratives, is expected to stand as an independent.

No date has been set for the by-election, caused by Mr Mandelson's appointment as European Commissioner. It may be on November 4, the same as the regional assembly referendum, although there would then be a conflict between the postal ballot system used in the referendum and the turn-up-and-vote system that has to be employed in a by-election.