HEREFORDSHIRE Labour Party says it will target seats on the county council in the next local election.

Labour Candidates, Anna Coda and Roger Page, received more than a fifth of the votes cast in the General Election earlier this month – the best result for the party in Herefordshire in 50 years.

Now the party, which currently has no representation at county level, said it will target seats on the Conservative-run Herefordshire Council in the 2019 election.

Bromyard town councillor Roger Page, senior vice chairman of North Herefordshire Labour Party, said: "Having achieved the best election result in 50 years we now intend to build on that result to gain seats on Herefordshire Council.

"We have well over 1,000 paid-up members across the county and a number who are keen to stand in the county elections in May 2019, when we will field candidates in particular in targeted wards.

"The opposition to the Tory-run council leaves a lot to be desired with IOC and Independent Councillors

unable or unwilling to challenge the administration, they have had the chance now its time for a change and a real opposition. Whilst it is difficult to take control we can make inroads and there is no way Labour would prop up a minority Tory administration."

In this year's General Election, Anna Coda received 11,991 votes – second to Conservative Jesse Norman who received 27,004.

Roger Page received 9,495 votes and came second in the North Herefordshire constituency to Bill Wiggin who received 31,097.

The county Labour Party is now in the process of compiling a list of candidates for early selection for the 2019 elections.

Councillor Page added: "However we must also prepare for another General Election which is likely to come sooner rather than later, and the electorate now know that only Labour can challenge the Conservatives."