CONTROVERSIAL former East Lancashire politician Simon Danczuk has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate in the General Election.

Party officials have confirmed that Hapton-raised Mr Danczuk, once a Blackburn with Darwen councillor, will not be able to stand "in any constituency" for Labour in the June 8 polls.

The Rochdale MP, who previously worked in the office of former Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson, has been suspended by Labour since a national newspaper reported that he had sent explicit text messages to a 17-year-old girl.

He has not yet confirmed whether he will seek to stand in the seat, which he seized from the Liberal Democrats in 2010, as an Independent.

Labour has so far not yet announced a replacement candidate for Mr Danczuk in the constituency, which he won with a 12,442 majority, with UKIP coming second, the Conservatives third and Liberal Democrats fourth.

A Labour party spokesman said: "After considering the case of Simon Danczuk in detail and speaking to him in an interview, the Labour Party's NEC (National Executive Committee) endorsement panel unanimously recommended that he should not be endorsed as a Labour candidate.

"He will not be able to stand as a Labour candidate in any constituency at the General Election."

Political pundits had speculated whether there would be enough time to conclude Mr Danczuk's disciplinary process, after Prime Minister Theresa May announced the snap election earlier this month.

The Lib Dems have again chosen Andy Kelly, a borough councillor for the Milnrow and Newhey ward on Rochdale Council, as their prospective parliamentary candidate.

Yesterday the Lancashire Telegraph reported how his estranged wife Karen, a councillor in Rochdale, had failed in her bid to be selected as a Labour candidate for the Bury North seat, which covers Ramsbottom and Summerseat, at the forthcoming election.

In the 2015 election, the Conservatives' David Nuttall triumphed, but with a majority of just 378.