LABOUR'S candidate for the North Shropshire by-election next month has been given some big-hitting backing by a popular former MP.

Ian Lucas, who nearly beat Owen Paterson at the first North Shropshire election in 1997, losing by only 2,000 votes, stood down as Wrexham MP at the 2019 national vote.

He was out with Ben Wood, who was named as Labour's hope for the election on December 16, around Ellesmere and he believes that voters should back the new man to take the seat.

"There's a good strong Labour tradition in North Shropshire that should not be taken for granted," he said.

"Every election bar one Labour have been the main challengers to the Tories.

"We could have taken the seat in 1997 if people hadn't been misled into supporting the Liberal Democrats who came third, but took enough votes to deny me victory.

"In Ben, we have an excellent young candidate with strong local roots.

"He will make a first class Member of Parliament and could represent North Shropshire for many years to come."