The Liberal Democrats have announced their candidate for Hove MP in the next general election.

Paul Elgood, the Lib Dem leader on Brighton and Hove City Council, was selected by the party at a meeting on Thursday night. Councillor Elgood stood for the Hove seat in the 2005 general election, more than doubling the Lib Dem vote to 8,002. The seat was won by Labour's Celia Barlow with 16,786 votes.

Coun Elgood was born and raised in Brighton and Hove and has been an outspoken representative for the Brunswick and Adelaide ward since 1999.

He said: "I couldn't resist throwing my hat into the ring in what will be a truly momentous election fight.

"The eyes of the country will be on the Brighton and Hove seats in the General Election and I am going to ensure that the Liberal Democrat voice is heard loud and clear."

He will stand against Mrs Barlow, Conservative Mike Weatherley, Green Ian Davey and UKIP's Stuart Bower in the poll, due by June.