Guy Renner-Thompson chosen as Conservative North East mayor candidate

Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson has been selected by Conservative members

A Northumberland county councillor has been picked as the Conservative candidate for next year's election of a North East mayor.

Guy Renner-Thompson, who represents the Bamburgh ward, was selected by party members across the region.

Labour's choice is Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, while Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne mayor, will run as an independent.

Mr Driscoll quit Labour after being barred from the selection contest.

The election will be held in May, with the role created under a £4.2bn devolution deal for the North East of England.

It will bring with it new funding and decision-making powers.

Whoever is elected will represent a population of about two million people stretching across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham.

Mr Renner-Thomson said it was "a huge opportunity for the whole region to grow and thrive" and that his focus would be on a regional transport strategy and a small business grant scheme.

He added: "The new mayor will have all the right tools to be able to get the investment the region needs, but it's about getting the right person in to pull these levers.

"If elected mayor, I will deliver for all of the North East and be a champion for the area here, and across the world."

Sedgefield MP Paul Howell had last month expressed his interest in being the Conservative candidate as did Sunderland councillor Chris Burnicle.