REDDITCH'S longest serving councillor - who was controversially dropped from defending the area she has served and lived in for most of her life - has been re-selected to stand for another ward.

Pat Wilson, 76, received a letter from the Conservative Association on Sunday informing her she had been chosen to stand for Batchley ward in June's local elections.

In January, the Advertiser reported how Mrs Wilson was devastated after discovering she had been deselected by her own party and would not be contesting West ward.

Mrs Wilson, who has been a councillor for 39 years, was replaced by Mike Braley, who will be fighting for the seat this time along with fellow Tory Gavin Smithers.

Mrs Wilson said: "I had applied to stand for Batchley ward, which includes most of Brockhill, and I am very glad to be back in the fight. I did not want to go quietly.

"I am very well known throughout the town and I know the Batchley area very well."

Mrs Wilson said she was looking forward to the challenge of standing as a Conservative candidate in a currently Labour-controlled ward.

"I enjoy helping people and giving them advice and I hope I get back on the council.

"I do like Redditch and I want to be able to look after it.

"I would not live anywhere else," she added.