A VETERAN Liberal Democrat campaigner has been selected as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Tees Valley mayoral election.

Chris Foote Wood defeated Anne-Marie Curry, Lib Dem leader on Darlington Borough Council in a ballot of members after a hustings event in Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

The 76-year-old writer, lecturer and actor, who lives in Darlington, has contested eight parliamentary elections.

He also stood for elected mayor of Middlesbrough in 2011, losing to independent Ray Mallon.

“I am very much looking forward to the campaign which I believe I can win,” said Mr Foote Wood.

“I have the experience, the knowledge and the ideas to make a success of this great opportunity to use the devolved powers and extra finance on offer to create jobs and bring prosperity to the Tees Valley.”

Mr Foote Wood was a Bishop Auckland district councillor for 40 years and was leader of Wear Valley council for six years.

His late wife Frances was Northern regional secretary of the party for 20 years.

He is also a former marathon runner and triathlete who has run the Great North Run 25 times.

“I am fighting fit and I have continued to work full time since 65, although if elected I will give up all my current paid work to be a full-time mayor,” he said.

“I have already pledged to give back half my salary as mayor to the people of Tees Valley by donating it to a local charity or trust.”

The mayoral elections, taking place on Thursday, May 4, will see a mayor appointed to represent the Tees Valley, made up of Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton and Middlesbrough.

The role of mayor has been created as part of a devolution deal for the region, and whoever is elected will have power over job creation, investment, transport, housing and skills.

Similar powers and responsibilities will be granted to the “city mayors” of several other areas in the UK also to be elected at the same time, including Liverpool and Manchester.

Last week the other would-be mayors attended a hustings event in Middlesbrough where North-East business leaders gathered to question the candidates about their vision for the Tees Valley.

Conservative candidate and Tory leader at Stockton Borough Council, Ben Houchen caused controversy when he said the closure of Redcar’s SSI steel plant had been handled successfully by the Government because many of the 2,000 workers who lost their jobs were now back in employment.

The other candidates are Labour’s Cllr Sue Jeffrey, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, John Tennant of UKIP and John Tait of the North East Party.

Mr Houchen, who has called for scandal-hit Cleveland Police to be scrapped as part of his campaign, said: “The mayor should act as an ambassador for the Tees Valley, going on dedicated trade missions to help find new contacts.”

Cllr Jeffrey said: “It is about how we sell ourselves – we need to tell people we are the Tees Valley, and the role of the Mayor gives us a voice to do that.”

Mr Tennant said he hoped to build strong links with businesses and Westminster, whilst Mr Tait stressed the importance of electrifying rail lines to east Cleveland.