A SENIOR councillor is putting himself forward for the Labour Party candidacy in the Barnsley East constituency.

Royston Coun Tim Cheetham, who sits on the council's cabinet, confirmed he will be submitting an expression of interest today after a special selections panel in London yesterday agreed there would be an open candidate list to choose a replacement for Jeff Ennis from.

Mr Ennis announced two weeks ago that he would be stepping down at the general election for 'personal reasons'.

Coun Cheetham, who has responsibility for corporate services, said: "Make no bones about it I love my town. Over the years there have been one or two constituencies which have come up and invited me to show an interest but I haven't taken any of them up.

"I am from Barnsley and that is what I care about, I would never consider it anywhere else. I am receiving encouragement from people saying 'you should do this' and I have to take that on board.

"If I thought I could contribute at national level and support Barnsley better than the role I am in now I would have to look at it."

Full story in this week's Chronicle