A FAMILIAR face around Darwen has been given the nod as the man chosen by the Liberal Democrats to stand against Janet Anderson at the next general election.

Brian Dunning, a former professional footballer, will try to repeat his success in the 1997 election where he gained votes in the constituency.

Mr Dunning, 62, lives in Pickup Bank and is deputy head of Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom.

He was selected at a meeting of the Darwen Liberal Democrats last month. A former professional with Stockport County, Mr Dunning also played at Darwen FC for five years. He also played cricket for a number of teams in the Darwen area. He has been a teacher for nearly 40 and got into politics after the formation of the SDP in the late 1970s.

Staying with the Liberal Democrats after the merger of the SDP and Liberal Parties in the mid-1980s he stood for two local elections in Bolton before moving to Darwen eight years ago.

Since then he has stood twice in the Marsh House ward of Darwen before standing in the 1997 general election.

Mr Dunning said: "I am confident that I can build on the success of four years ago and that the Liberal Democrats can get an even bigger voice in the town."