Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron came to Oswaldtwistle to help launch Conservative candidate Sara Britcliffe's bid for re-election as MP.

The former Prime Minister - who quit politics after losing the Brexit vote in 2016 before being handed a peerage to become Foreign Secretary last year - went out canvassing on the doorstep with her on Tuesday in the town's White Ash estate.

Armed with an umbrella to ward against the rain - unlike party leader Rishi Sunak when he announced the surprise nationwide poll - they visited homes to spread their message.

Meanwhile, Labour is expected to announce its candidate for the Hyndburn seat later this week following the suspension of Graham Jones due to an investigation for alleged antisemitism.

Lancashire Telegraph: David Cameron with Sara Britcliffe in HyndburnDavid Cameron with Sara Britcliffe in Hyndburn

Miss Britcliffe said: "Together Lord Cameron and I launched my re-election campaign on White Ash Estate in Oswaldtwistle, across from my old primary school - Moor End.

"I pledged to residents that I will always fight for our home and, if re-elected will continue to put Hyndburn on the map in Westminster and seek further investment on top of the record investment already delivered.

"People who know me and have met me over the past four years know my dedication to our home and I hope that they will put their trust in me again to continue to represent our community of Hyndburn.

"It was great to see and speak to residents with the former Prime Minister and to see the support on the doorstep.

"I'll be spending every minute of this campaign speaking to people on the doorstep as to why it is so important that we don't go back to being voiceless in Westminster as we have in the past and that we have an MP who will always put residents first."

Lancashire Telegraph: Graham Jones was removed as Labour's Hyndburn candidateGraham Jones was removed as Labour's Hyndburn candidate (Image: NQ)

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that the Labour Party's National Executive Committee will make a decision on the selection of its candidate for Hyndburn this week.

It also understands that Mr Jones membership suspension was lifted on Monday giving him time to re-apply for the position in a new selection shortlisting process which finished that evening.

However senior Labour insiders have said that it is unlikely he will be re-instated as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate after his outburst against “f***ing Israel” at a meeting which led to his suspension.