CONSERVATIVES have high hopes of snatching the Rossendale and Darwen seat at the next General Election.

And they have chosen prospective Parliamentary candidate Nigel Adams to do the job.

The seat was held by Conservatives until 1992 when Sir David Trippier was ousted by Labour's Janet Anderson in a landslide victory.

But Mrs Anderson saw her majority halved to 4,970 at the last General Election in June 2001.

Central Office Conservatives have put the constituency high on a "must win" list for the next election.

Speaking after his election by local party members at Hoddlesden Conservative Club Mr Adams said: "It is a great honour to be selected to contest the Rossendale and Darwen seat, because for the first time since 1992 we have a realistic chance of winning the seat.

"The huge swing against Labour here in 2001 and the feeling of district towards the Government are great motivators for us."

Mr Adams is a married father-of-four and a company director who plays cricket in his spare time and enjoys rearing rare breeds of cattle.

He added: "For too long, voters in Rossendale and Darwen have tolerated New Labour, its spin culture, its obsession with targets in public services, its back door taxes, rising crime and its failure to deliver on promises made at the last two elections."

Commenting on the selection local Conservative party chairman Anne Cheetham said: "We have chosen a proven winner in Nigel Adams to fight this seat and his selection should send out a very firm message to Labour that we mean business."