Kate gets Greens vote

Mrs Spohrer, aged 44, stood in the Wolverley, Cookley and Wribbenhall division in the Worcestershire County Council elections in 2005.

She has twice contested the Aggborough & Spennells ward on Wyre Forest District Council, in a by-election in 2005, and the full council elections in 2006.

Mrs Spohrer, aged 44, from Wolverley, is a special needs educational trainer, and was also parliamentary candidate in the South Staffordshire constituency in 2005, campaigning against the extension of Wolverhampton airport.

This will be the first time that the Green Party has contested the parliamentary seat of Wyre Forest, currently held by the Independent, Health Concern, MP Dr Richard Taylor.

The mother-of-one, a founder member of the Wyre Forest Green Party, told the selection committee that she was particularly concerned about the effects of modern transport and shopping habits and their effects on people's health and the environment.

She said: "We need to support local businesses in Wyre Forest and more facilities should be provided locally, not in distant developments using up green fields outside communities.

"Green transport policies put disabled people and pedestrians at the top of the hierarchy, followed by cyclists and public transport."