LABOUR has selected the person it hopes will claim Wyre Forest's parliamentary seat at the next General Election.

Marc Bayliss, 31, was chosen as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency, which was in Labour hands until Health Concern's Dr Richard Taylor unseated David Lock in 2001.

Mr Bayliss works as an economist, in a business specialising in economic and social research.

He is married to a primary school teacher and they have a two-year-old daughter.

Labour's new Westminster hopeful has lived in Worcestershire all his life and his parents are residents of the Wyre Forest area.

He has been a member of the city council in Worcester, where he lives, for the past two years.

The process leading to Mr Bayliss's selection involved members from across the constituency having a say in who should be the candidate at the election.

Almost 100 party members took part in the final round of voting.

The successful candidate, who is a lifelong fan of Kidderminster Harriers, said: "I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected by members to lead the fight for Labour at the General Election.

"While our Labour Government has already made significant improvements to public services through its record investment in schools, healthcare and local authorities, there remain issues locally that are not being tackled effectively under the current political arrangements in Wyre Forest.

"It is clear that the constituency needs a Member of Parliament who is committed to dealing with all areas of concern.

"Over the next few weeks and beyond, I will be meeting and talking to as many local people as possible, in order to find out what they really want.

"It's already clear, though, that the single-issue party, Health Concern, cannot deliver better public services for Wyre Forest and that the Tories will not.

"Their commitment to making massive reductions to public service expenditure would amount to cuts of £27 million here in Wyre Forest."

Keith Budden, chairman of Wyre Forest Constituency Party, said: "Marc is a person with a clear understanding of the big political issues we face, both nationally and locally.

"I am sure he will make a great candidate, who will lead us to victory at the General Election," he added.