IT will not be third time lucky for aspiring Conservative MP Virginia Taylor.

After fighting two General Elections for the Tories and twice being within a whisker of toppling sitting Liberal Democrat Paul Keetch for the Parliamentary seat in Hereford she has said it is not her intention to stand again.

"After six years as the Parliamentary candidate I feel that it is time to pass the baton on to someone new and to look for new challenges myself,'' she wrote to constituency chairman Audrey Caine.

But, with her family, she will remain living in Herefordshire, continue to give wholehearted support to Hereford Conservatives and to serve in any way she can to further their cause.

In the May General Election Mrs Taylor polled 19,323 votes compared with 20,285 cast for Mr Keetch.

"Of course, the result in May was deeply disappointing to me, and my family personally, and to all our Conservative members, supporters and voters and I give my sincere thanks to all Hereford Conservatives for all their hard work and support during two hard-fought campaigns,'' said Mrs Taylor.

Honour

She considered it a great honour to have served as the candidate, describing Herefordshire as a very special place.

"I have met some truly inspiring people, in Ross, Hereford and our rural villages, working untiringly for their communities, for local charities and voluntary organisations, or caring for the elderly and disabled. I have been impressed by the dedication of those working in our local health service and schools and by the contribution made by local farmers and businesses,'' said Mrs Taylor.

Chairman Mrs Caine said a search for a successor to Mrs Taylor would start in earnest once the new leader for the national party had been decided.

The position of prospective candidate will be advertised and applicants will have to be registered on the Conservative Central Office approved list.

More than 70 people applied last time.

Now a marginal seat, Hereford is expected to be popular choice with a high number of applications.

Following the selection process a new candidate is likely to be appointed in the late spring.

l Meanwhile, all members of the local party who have been paid up for more than three months will have a vote for the leadership and the choice between David Davis and David Cameron will be known round December 6.

Both Mrs Caine and Tory agent John Trout said general observations among local Tories, their supporters and others gave the edge to Mr Cameron.

Mrs Taylor, who assisted MP Oliver Letwin when he was Shadow Home Secretary, said she worked for a time in a small team with Mr Cameron and was impressed with his ability. "My first inclination is to support him, but I shall listen to what both of them have to say at the hustings before making a decision,'' she said.

It is not known yet whether Mr Davis or Mr Cameron will come to Herefordshire during the six-week campaign.

Both have been invited by the Ludlow Constituency and Mr Davis will attend a meeting at Ludlow Racecourse on Tuesday, November 1, starting at 7pm. Only party members from Shropshire and Herefordshire will be allowed admittance.