VETERAN former Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle has declared he his 'fighting fit' as he seeks to regain the Parliamentary seat he lost to Labour in 2015.

The 76-year-old has been confirmed as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Burnley in the December 12 General Election.

However his bid to regain the constituency from Labour's Julie Cooper faces competition from another former Lib Dem borough leader Cllr Charlie Briggs, 64, standing for the breakaway Burnley and Padiham Independent Party.

Cllr Birtwistle said: "I am standing again because so many people asked me to and I thought 'Why not?' I am fighting fit and canvassing morning, noon and night.

"I am also standing because of all the work I did for the hospital and to bring jobs into the town stopped after I lost the seat in 2010."

Cllr Briggs, leader of the coalition group which took control of the council from Labour in May, said: "I am standing to try and ensure Burnley's decisive vote to leave the EU is honoured, unlike Labour and the Lib Dems."

Other confirmed candidates for the seat include Conservative Anthony Higginbotham, Green Laura Fisk and Stewart Scott for The Brexit Party.