AN independent candidate is trying to throw his hat into the ring for Worcester's General Election contest, it has emerged.

Mark Shuker, a 40-year-old engineer who contested the seat in 2015, is expected to be the fifth hopeful to stand in the city for the snap June 8 poll.

It comes as:

- Labour's Worcester candidate Councillor Joy Squires put schools and the NHS at the heart of her campaign, accusing the Government of taking key public services "backwards"

- Current city MP Robin Walker was formally re-selected as the Conservative's candidate, insisting "we have seen the economy turn around" during his time in office

- UKIP's search for a candidate dragged on, with party officials still deliberating over what to do

Mr Shuker, a former Nunnery Wood High School, pupil, is part of a new grassroots movement called 'Compass'.

Yesterday, he said he was trying to get the paperwork done on time for the Thursday, May 11 deadline.

"There's only a few days' turnaround between the nominations opening and closing, so we'll see how the process goes," he said.

"But I do want to stand in the election, I'm fully committed to trying to get all the bits and pieces together."

Mr Shuker, a former member of the Liberal Democrats, stood as an independent two years ago and got just 69 votes.

Meanwhile Worcester Labour Party has upped the ante over its General Election campaign, with Cllr Squires saying a Jeremy Corbyn government would tackle cuts to school budgets and offer local authorities more money.

She said: "Despite Tory promises of 'fairer funding' our schools are seeing huge budget cuts, our local NHS is at breaking point and life remains a struggle for too many people in Worcester.

"People in Worcester need a Labour MP to stand up for them by introducing a Living Wage of £10 an hour, giving the NHS the money it needs and funding schools and children’s centres properly so children get the best start in life."

Elsewhere, Mr Walker was formally re-selected during a Conservative Party get-together in Elgar's Restaurant, Reindeer Court, on Friday.

He said: "I cannot think of a greater honour than to represent Worcester as its MP.

Worcester News:

The last seven years have sometimes been challenging, but extremely rewarding.

"Over that time we have seen the economy turn around, and move from a situation of high unemployment under the last Labour Government to the longest period of low unemployment the city has ever enjoyed."

Andrew Grant, President of Worcester Conservative Association, said "any alternative (MP) would be a disaster".

Green Councillor Louis Stephen and Lib Dem Stephen Kearney are also contesting the Worcester seat, with Mr Walker holding a majority of 5,646.