The Conservative Party has restarted its selection process for a candidate to stand in May’s General Election.

A new potential MP has to be found because Brooks Newmark is stepping down.

The process was suspended in December after Conservative Party Campaign Headquarters ruled the local association had broken the rules.

Selection committee chairman Roger Walters said: “We are interviewing potential candidates and the process will take place over the next couple of weeks.

“By the end of next week we hope to have a candidate selected.”

It is understood there are now no local candidates going forward for the interviews.