A FORMER executive of Age Concern has been selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for North Herefordshire.

Sally Prentice, who currently lives in London but plans to make frequent trips to her prospective constituency, is focusing her campaign on local NHS services, jobs and improving public transport.

The 45-year-old, who was born and brought up in rural Oxfordshire, has worked previously as a former deputy chief executive of Age Concern London.

She has also worked as an economist in HM Treasury and in regeneration, supporting long-term unemployed people back to work.

"Older people and families living in North Herefordshire have been hit hard by high petrol prices and energy bills. The Tory and Lib Dem coalition's austerity policies and cuts to public services have made life much tougher," she said.

"Herefordshire residents have a right to excellent health care. The Tories’ reorganisation has wasted millions of pounds of public money. I want to see waiting times in A&E reduced and better access to primary care services."

The Labour party, she said, is committed to a higher minimum wage, 25 hours free childcare for three and four year olds and a mansion tax to fund more doctors and nurses.

And she is delivering the same message as Labour’s Hereford and South Herefordshire parliamentary candidate, Anna Coda, who is urging wavering Lib-Dem voters to swell her ranks

Ms Prentice said: "I know many of you feel badly let down by Nick Clegg. I share your commitment to public service and to creating a fairer society. The Lib Dems let voters down by supporting the Tories’ costly reorganisation of the NHS.

"Voting Labour is a vote for a more prosperous and fairer Britain."