CONSERVATIVES are urg-ing their London HQ to end delays in choosing the borough’s election candidate.

Labour’s candidate to become Hyndburn’s next MP, Graham Jones, has already started canvassing for the next election while local Conservatives have not even been given the green light to accept initial appli-cations.

Hyndburn’s Conservative Co-mmittee is now pressing Central Office to proceed, whilst East Lancashire’s sole Conservative MP, Nigel Evans has pledged to raise the issue with the party’s national chairman.

Due to a number of MPs nationally resigning in the wake of the expenses scandal, the Tory party is said to be ‘overwhelmed’ with new applications.

Constituencies with a current Tory MP are said to have been prioritised by chiefs, while areas like Hyndburn have been left until last.

Mr Evans said: “The party need to choose now because Hyndburn is a highly winnable seat.

"The Labour candidate has already started canvassing and nationally the election camp-aign has begun.

"I will be speaking to the party’s chair-man Eric Pickles about making the selection process in Hynd-burn a priority.”

Clayton-le-Moors councillor Janet Storey has been accepted as an approved candidate for the party overall, but is unable to apply for Hyndburn until the process here is opened.

She said: “It’s not for lack of pushing. The local committee are very keen but central have been so busy.”

Fellow conservative Coun Lynn Wilson added: “I’m surprised it’s taken so long.”

Hyndburn’s Conservative Committee hope to have the process opened by central office in the next fortnight when applications for the candidacy will be advertised on the party’s website.

Applications will then be routed to the local committee.