LABOUR has finally picked its candidate for the Halesowen and Rowley Regis General Election race.

Local Labour Party members voted to select Worcestershire mother Sue Hayman on Saturday as their prospective parliamentary candidate.

Mrs Hayman will replace Sylvia Heal who has represented the area since 1997 but who decided to pull out the race last month.

With weeks to go until the election Mrs Hayman will be playing catch up with Tory James Morris who has been campaigning in the constituency since last year.

Mrs Hayman said: "It's a great honour to have been chosen by local Labour Party members to follow Sylvia Heal.

"The General Election is now only weeks away and I will be working hard to meet as many local people as possible before the campaign gets underway.”

She said: "The next election, whenever it's called, will be a choice between Labour's commitment to build a future fair for all in Halesowen and Rowley Regis and the Tory threat to cut public services.

"Sylvia Heal has earned huge respect over many years as a strong constituency MP, and it's vital that Halesowen and Rowley Regis has another strong Labour MP to build on all her hard work."

Sylvia Heal MP backed her successor as Labour candidate for the seat, she said: "I'm delighted that local Labour Party members have chosen Sue as their prospective candidate.

“She is a very able, hard working politician with lots of experience and I know she would make a great MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis. I will be giving her my full support."

Mrs Hayman, who is married with two children who are studying, has stood for Labour in the both General Elections and European Parliamentary elections unsuccessfully in 2005 and 2004 respectively.

She has managed constituency offices for two Labour MPs and is an active member of the Unite union.