RIBBLE Valley Labour Party has re-selected former Burnley councillor Marcus Johnstone as candidate at the next General Election.

Now a member of Preston Council, Mr Johnstone fought Ribble Valley in 1997 and tripled the Labour vote.

On being re-selected, he said: "The message to our Liberal and Tory opponents remains exactly the same: we will fight for every single vote. Last time we gave them a good run for their money and we will be after them both again at the next General Election."

He will be re-establishing his campaign committee and is looking for a new campaign headquarters. He will also be working to re-establish the Longridge branch.

A journalist and former reporter with the Burnley Citizen, Mr Johnstone now teaches journalism at Southport College.

As a Burnley councillor representing Trinity ward, he was chairman of the economic and property sub-committee for six years. He is now a member of Preston Council in Riversway ward.