MO Mowlam wants a woman. The local party bigwigs are desperate for a local man or woman.

But tonight, the ordinary rank-and-file of Redcar's Labour party get their first chance to size up the possible successor to their irreplaceable local MP.

Ever since Dr Mowlam dropped the little bombshell a few weeks ago that she would be quitting at the next General Election, the CVs have been polished up and letters penned from hopeful contenders to win the Labour nomination.

One candidate, who shall be nameless, dropped a Cleveland-sized clanger by boasting of his North-East knowledge and recalling how he had just been to "Redbridge", a fine place but hundreds of miles away in deepest Surrey.

Party officials in Redcar have not issued a complete list of the possible runners and riders but tonight in the Eston leisure centre, as many as 30 could roll up for an "informal" get-together with local party members.

Constituency secretary Jean Jones said as far as she was aware, there was nobody who had been an MP before, thus ruling out Shaun Woodward, who defected from the Tories last year but has yet to find a safe Labour constituency.

Mrs Jones also thought there was so far nobody of national repute up for the job.

Alan Milburn's parliamentary aide, Darren Murphy, is thought to have given up the ghost of winning the candidature.

Now the Labour Party - regionally and nationally - is dropping heavy hints about the need for more female MPs, so the betting has to be on a woman.

That will be music to the ears of Redcar and Cleveland councillor Maureen Hall who has declared her interest.

But the combatively-named Sheila Argument, a former district councillor, would also qualify, as would GMB union worker Julie Elliott or Lancaster University lecturer Gay Johnston.

Even so, it's highly unlikely male contenders will give up without a fight.

So Stockton councillor Geoff Field, who is understood to be interested, could put in an appearance along with potential contender Dave Anderson, a Unison representative at Newcastle City Council.

After tonight, hopefuls must put their interest in writing by November 4 and then be nominated by Redcar wards or affiliated organisations by November 19.

Six days later, the local party's general committee will draw up a shortlist ahead of the December 16 poll of the 380 or so local party members eligible to vote.

Somebody will then be in for a nervous Christmas, wondering how the hell they can follow Mo Mowlam.