A FORMER model has been nominated by Makerfield Conservatives to fight the general election.

Jane Brooks, 41, (left) from Westhoughton, a science graduate, was chosen to stand against Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney.

A fluent French speaker, Jane is married to Italian restaurateur Mario and helps to run the business in Market Street Westhoughton.

She is no stranger to being in the limelight as she was a catwalk model in her 20s.

The former fashion consultant, who also used to run a ladies clothes shop in Westhoughton, was nominated for Lancashire Woman of the Year in 1988, largely for her fund raising activities.

Eurosceptic Jane said: "Even though I am married to an Italian, it doesn't mean I want our country be run by Italians or any other European nation."