CONSERVATIVE MP Nigel Evans is claiming recent boundary changes will strengthen his hand at the General Election.

The Ribble Valley MP will be defending a majority of more than 6,500 on May 1 but he believes the Boundary Commission changes will increase his share of the vote.

The alterations have brought Higher Walton and Samlesbury, where the local Labour Party is involved in bitter in-fighting, and Barton into the Ribble Valley ward. The Press Association has estimated the boundary changes could result in Mr Evans' majority rising by more than 2,000.

Mr Evans said: "The reception I received leafleting in Barton was very positive.

"I am sure that, if the reaction of local people is anything to go by, the Press Association will have underestimated my majority on May 1.

"The Labour Party, in three of the four wards, are now second to me.

"A recent poll in The Times newspaper stated that in seats where the Liberal Democrats have been second to Conservative, Labour was in fact taking second place.

"My message to the Labour candidate Marcus Johnstone is that second place is as far as he is going to get."

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