THE Liberal Democrat group has announced its parliamentary candidate for Darlington in the General Election will be local councillor Anne-Marie Curry.

Ms Curry, who is group leader for the party on Darlington Borough Council and represents North Road ward, was selected at the end of December to fight the Darlington seat.

Ms Curry worked as a buyer for National Savings Durham and London and was also a coach for the junior section of Durham City Harriers, having been an athlete herself.

She said her multicultural upbringing in Uganda and the Netherlands, as well as the north of England, and jobs at Morrisons and a car factory while bringing up her daughter, means she is in greater touch with the 'real world' compared to those in Westminster.

She added: "I've been a councillor for North Road ward for more than six years and I feel this gives me a far broader base of experience and knowledge to represent the people of Darlington.

"The last time we had a Liberal MP in Darlington was Ignatius Lincoln in 1910. Since then we've had some brilliant candidates and I will work hard to emulate them."