LABOUR'S candidate in the Sedgefield by-election launched his campaign in earnest at the weekend.

Phil Wilson met voters during a walkabout in Newton Aycliffe town centre on Saturday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, he attended a coffee morning in aid of Unicef at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre, and later visited a "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" at St Clare's Church, in the town.

That was followed yesterday by a walkabout at the farmers' market in Sedgefield. He also went to Thornley, Cornforth, Ferryhill, Fishburn, Wheatley Hill, Wingate and Chilton.

He said he wanted to meet community groups and local people to make sure "I will listen and get done what they need doing".

He said: "I am proud to say I will have been to every single area in the constituency by Monday night."

He has already signalled that the future of the failed Newton Aycliffe regeneration project was a priority, and is keen to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

He went out with patrolling police officers on Friday night, visiting towns and villages in the constituency.

Mr Wilson plans to circulate a leaflet outlining his views on law and order in the next few days.

He said: "I will work with the local police, local community officers and wardens and with local residents to make sure that the extra resources and powers we have are used effectively in each of our communities."

He also plans to address the lack of regeneration in Newton Aycliffe, and said: "Newton Aycliffe town centre is one of the main issues which needs sorting out. It desperately needs modernising, possibly with some new shops and restaurants.

"The health centre too is in need of attention, and a good plan would be to relocate the health centre closer to the town centre near the library, so it becomes more of a community hub"

Mr Wilson is seen as a "Blairite" candidate - being one of the famous five' Trimdon activists who helped elect the former Prime Minister in 1983.

He lives in Trimdon Village with his wife and two sons, and says his knowledge of the area will serve him well as an MP.

He said: "I am extremely happy to be representing the area in which I grew up, and it is an absolute privilege to represent people I have known my whole life.

"I am the only candidate who has spent his whole life in the area, the only one who went to local schools and the only one who has headquarters in the town centre."

More than 300 constituency Labour party members attended Trimdon Labour Club on Tuesday last week to select him from a five-person shortlist to contest the seat vacated by Tony Blair.