Labour supporters in Halesowen and Rowley Regis are demanding a stalwart councillor is allowed to be re-selected as a candidate in May’s local elections.

Members of the local constituency party say they are "dismayed and appalled" that cllr Ann Shackleton has been removed from an approved list of people who can be chosen to stand and called for her to be reinstated.

The former headteacher, who represents Cradley Heath and Old Hill ward, is one of four sitting Sandwell Labour councillors who have been told they have not been chosen to defend their seats in the forthcoming local elections.  

Colleagues are backing cllr Shackleton and have sent a strongly worded motion to the regional Labour group, saying: “We demand that her appeal is heard fairly and speedily, and we expect Ann to be restored to her rightful place on the panel of candidates.”

They added: "We urge those responsible to act swiftly to right these wrongs to avoid further damage to the already sinking morale of loyal Halesowen & Rowley Regis officers, councillors, members and campaigners."

Ian Cooper, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, is backing the call.

He said: “As a party we were surprised at the decision.

“She is an excellent councillor and she has a track record in public service that speaks for itself.”

He went onto to say, “We want the best candidate because Sandwell has fought on to maintain public services against the backdrop of cuts of nearly 50 per cent in funding.

“Ann has played her part it that and we need the best quality candidates we can get and Ann is one of those.”

The three other sitting councillors who have been removed from the list are the mayor and deputy mayor of Sandwell, Joy Edis and Carol Goult, and Wednesbury South’s Olwen Jones.

A decision on Cllr Shackleton’s appeal is expected next week following an internal party hearing on Sunday.