THE Liberal Democrats have chosen a Yorkshire solicitor to take on Tory leader William Hague at the General Election.

District councillor Edward Forth has been selected as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Richmond constituency.

Mr Forth practises in Yarm, but lives in Leyburn, which he represents on Richmondshire District Council. He is a member of the group which prepared the Investment Prospectus for the Leyburn area to attract grants from Europe.

He has indicated his priorities will be education, agriculture, support for small businesses and diversification.

Also standing will be Labour's Fay Tinnion, a history teacher from Gateshead.