THE Conservatives have chosen two of 2015’s runners up to fight June 8’s general election in Blackburn and Hyndburn.

But they have yet to chose their candidate in Burnley.

Former senior police officer Bob Eastwood, runner up to Labour’s Kate Hollern in Blackburn last time by 14,760 votes, will fight Blackburn for the second time.

Ribble Valley businessman Kevin Horkin, 55, will take on Hyndburn again despite Graham Jones increasing Labour’s majority last time to 4,400.

Born in Haslingden Mr Horkin, who started his career with a stall on Accrington Market aged 16, said: “I am a Brexit candidate for a Brexit Britain.

“I know there is quite a lot of work to do, it seems a very similar situation to when Ken Hargreaves won the seat for the Conservatives in 1983.”

Father-of-four Mr Eastwood retired as chief superintendent in charge of Lancashire Police’s Eastern Division covering Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley in 2014.

He pledged at his selection meeting to cut crime within the area, improve the local economy and make the town a place where the youth can aspire to thrive in.

Cliviger with Worsthorne councillor Cosima Towneley, who won the Lancashire County Council seat of Burley Rural for the Conservatives last week, said: “The selection of our candidate for Burnley is still under consideration.”

Labour have already chosen sitting MP Julie Cooper as their candidate on June 8 with the Liberal Democrats choosing former MP Gordon Birtwistle, who lost by 3,244 votes two years ago.

The Conservatives have chosen their three sitting MPs to fight again next month: Jake Berry in Rossendale and Darwen (majority 5,654); Andrew Stephenson in Pendle (majority 5,453); and Nigel Evans in Ribble Valley (majority 13,606).

Buckshaw and Worden councillor Caroline Moon will take on Labour’s Lindsay Hoyle in Chorley where he had a majority of 4,530 in 2015. She is a mother of two and a foster carer for children with complex needs