Steve Rotheram MP enters Liverpool Metro Mayor race

Steve Rotheram is currently MP for Liverpool Walton

Labour MP Steve Rotheram, who represents Liverpool Walton, has entered the race to be the first Metro Mayor for the Liverpool City Region.

The current mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and Luciana Berger, MP for Liverpool Wavertree, also want to secure Labour's nomination.

Last week Merseyside-born Andy Burnham announced plans to run for a similar post in Greater Manchester.

Elections for mayor of the Liverpool City Region will be held in 2017.

The area covers five Merseyside councils - Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral - as well as Halton in Cheshire.

Mr Rotheram said: "I have received such an overwhelming number of individuals and organisations who have contacted me encouraging me to do what they believe would be the right thing for the whole city region and its people."

Pledging that no borough would be "left behind", he added: "I will be announcing a number of priorities over the coming weeks that will provide the basis for my manifesto for change and outline my strategic vision for the City Region."