LABOUR'S new man for Leigh is Government aide 31-year-old Andy Burnham.

He was selected as Labour's candidate for the next General Election as successor to retiring MP Lawrence Cunliffe, who has represented Leigh since 1979, after a protracted and often bitter selection process.

The selection was made by Leigh Labour Party in a one-member, one-vote secret ballot at a packed Hindley Green Labour Club.

And the first thing he did after being congratulated on his success by fellow candidates and local party members was to borrow reporter Brian Gomm's phone to break the news to his parents, Eileen and Roy at the family home in Culcheth.

Then the special adviser to Chris Smith, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport declared "the work starts now!"

The ex-Golborne, Lowton Culcheth Villa footballer polled 128 votes to take the nomination ahead of trade union researcher Ian Wingfield with 47 votes and Trafford councillor Barbara Keeley-Huggett, third, with 37.

Mr Burnham, who fought his campaign under the slogan "local with national clout" paid tribute to Mr Cunliffe, who he said had been a loyal servant to Leigh.

He added: "It's been a long, hard road but I feel fantastic now. I'm not yet the MP, I'm the candidate, but I will work with all my heart and soul for the people of Leigh if I win the election."

He organised General Election campaigns in the North-west in 1997 as a member of Labour's key seats team and as a researcher to the shadow health team he developed campaigns targeting the Tory health record. Before that he was political assistant to MP Tessa Jowell.

At present he covers policy and political advice on all areas, but particularly sport. As a Government Football Task Force adviser, two years ago he went by wheelchair to Wembley to watch England draw 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to draw attention to the problems faced by disabled people.

Following his recommendations the new national stadium will have 400 wheelchair spaces and the law against racist chanting has been changed.

Mr Burnham, who is married to Dutch born Frankie and has a young son, said: "I want to pay special tribute to my parents who introduced me to the Labour Party."

Congratulating him, Leigh CLP chairman Lord Peter Smith said: "It was a fair contest on the night although there has been a deliberate attempt to undermine the selection process. In the end we had a hard and fairly fought contest. Now I hope all members will rally round Andy."

Defeated local councillor Keith Cunliffe added: "Now we can start reconstructing and regenerating the Labour Party in Leigh for the benefit of the people. I wish him all the best."