AN independent councillor is to challenge a senior member of the Cabinet at the forthcoming General Election.

Coun Watts Stelling, who sits on Derwentside District Council and Durham County Council, will stand against MP Hilary Armstrong for the North-West Durham seat.

The Government's Chief Whip has held the seat since 1987 and is defending a majority of more than 16,000.

Coun Stelling, a 53-year-old former analytical chemist, of Leadgate, near Consett, said becoming an MP had been his aim since he entered politics in 1999.

He said: "It is a very exciting time in my political career.

"I want to make changes in the area where I live and I have done that at district and county level.

"We are being starved of cash up here and nothing has been done by any of the three big hitters to bring employment to the area.

"This is going to be a wake up call whether I get in or not. I hope people in the constituency will view my challenge as a breath of fresh air."

In 2001, he won the safe Labour seat of Leadgate and Medomsley on Durham County Council, which was held by retiring council leader Don Robson, by five votes.

He said his main policies will be to reduce crime, improve health services and increase employment by attracting long-term investment.

However, he will face an uphill struggle to unseat an MP, who at the 2001 General Election, took more than 62 per cent of the vote.

Ms Armstrong said: "Anyone is entitled to stand in the election.

"I will be standing on Labour's record of real achievement in north-west Durham.

"We have stable economy with many more jobs, which has allowed us to make record levels of investment in our local public services."