A PRO-DEMOCRACY activist who spent more than a year in a Burmese prison returned to the North-East yesterday to help his friend's campaign to stand for Parliament.

James Mawdsley, 30, whose family live in Brancepeth, just outside Durham City, was in the town to support fellow human rights activist Ben Rogers, the Conservative candidate for the constituency in the forthcoming General Election.

The pair have been speaking at a number of meetings and visiting schools in the city during the past few days.

In 1999, Mr Mawdsley was jailed in Burma for distributing pro-democracy leaflets and served 14 months' in prison, much of it in solitary confinement.

He has now been selected as the Conservative candidate to fight the seat of Hyndburn, in Lancashire, where Labour has a majority of more than 8,000.

During his visit to Durham, Mr Mawdsley said: "There is a real positive buzz in the campaign.

"We need fire and passion in politics and perhaps being in a Burmese prison is a good testing ground as to whether you will really stick to your guns or whether you will quit when you run into opposition."

Mr Rogers, a 32-year-old journalist, is hoping to improve on the Conservatives' third place in the last General Election and admitted it would be hard going.

But he said: "When I was selected I was told by an American Congressman I was working with that there is no such thing as an unwinnable seat and that's a good principle to go in with.

"It will be a challenge, but I will be putting forward a positive message."

He said he would be campaigning on many local issues, including 24-hour licensing and the culture of binge-drinking associated with it, health, crime and the state of public services.