BURY Conservatives have revealed their candidate chosen to fight the Besses by-election called for July 19.

The election has been called in the Whitefield ward following the resignation of Labour Councillor Elizabeth FitzGerald.

Ms FitzGerald has represented the ward since 2012 and was not due for re-election until 2020.

Jordan Lewis, a public-transport worker who lives and was raised in Whitefield, has now been selected by the Tories to stand.

He will go up against Lucy Smith, a Prestwich resident whose mother and father Stella and John Smith have both served as Bury Town councillors, whom Labour have named as their candidate for the by-election.

Mr Lewis has said that his campaign will focus on prioritising potholes, campaigning for measures to reduce noise pollution from the M60, and fighting for a better deal for Besses, Whitefield and Unsworth from Bury Town Hall.

He said: "This by-election is going to cost the taxpayer a lot of money. That’s money that could have been spent on local public services or on fixing our crumbling roads.

"However, now that Labour have forced this election, residents should take this opportunity to send a strong message to Bury Labour Council that enough is enough and they must end their neglect of Besses, Whitefield & Unsworth.

"I’m standing in this election because I live locally and I love this area and the amazing communities that make it such a special place to live.

"I want to work with residents to help make Besses, Whitefield & Unsworth even better."

The by-election is the second in Besses ward in 14 months and is estimated to cost around £15,000.