A double Olympic gold medal rower is hoping to swap his seat in the boat for a parliamentary seat in Sussex.

Olympian James Cracknell has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next MP for Bexhill and Battle.

The 42-year-old is set to be joined by up to 150 candidates all vying for the safe Conservative Sussex seat and the chance to replace outgoing MP Greg Barker next May.

Former energy minister Mr Barker announced in July that he would not stand again in 2015 but would instead pursue a fresh challenge after 14 years as the area’s MP.

The Bexhill and Battle Conservative group will spend the next month reducing the 150 applicants down to a shortlist of 11 who will be interviewed and then down to a final four with local members voting on who will be selected as the official candidate.

Mr Barker won 51.6% of the vote at the last election and the Conservatives are widely expected to retain the seat next time around.

For more on this story see tomorrow’s Argus.