TORIES have selected a candidate to contest the parliamentary seat held by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn.

Anthony Frieze, 38, was chosen at Darlington Conservative Association's annual meeting. He said: "Since Michael Howard became leader, the Conservative Party is strongly reviving across the country, none more so than in Darlington.

"We will be holding Mr Milburn to account for his close association with the manifest errors of Tony Blair and New Labour."

Mr Frieze, a London banker, has close family links to the region through his wife, Susannah, and her family in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

"Once elected, we look forward to making a home in Darlington with our two young children," he said.