THE daughter-in-law of a Conservative councillor who died last month has defected from the party to try and win his seat.

Julie Slater will stand as an independent in the East Rural ward of Blackburn with Darwen Council after she was not selected to represent the Tory party.

Conservatives chose instead former councillor Paul Raseta, who lost his Fernhurst seat by 43 votes to the England First Party in the May local elections.

It has been predicted the election this month could become very messy and nasty' as two far right parties, the Conservatives and an independent are among those contesting the seat on September 28.

Mrs Slater, married to Fred's son Neil, is no stranger to politics.

She was also unsuccessful in May's election when she was runner-up in Marsh House ward.

Both Coun Slater's widow Jacqueline and her son John are a councillors for the Fernhurst ward.

Mrs Slater said: "After dad's sudden death we were inundated with many requests from the constituents of East Rural for a member of the Slater family to carry on his excellent work and many projects and not someone who hasn't local knowledge of the constituents and the East Rural area.

"Therefore, the constituents will be the ones to decide." Last month the BNP outraged the family of Coun Slater when they announced they intended to stand for the seat.

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Conservatives, said: "It's going to be a very messy and nasty election, there will be lots of things said.

"I think it's emotion that's driving the Slater family.

"They are still struggling to come to terms with Fred's death.

"They need to, if possible, sit down and consider where Fred would have been. He was a Conservative through and through and that was his driving aim."

Mark Cotterill, leader of the England First Party confirmed the party was standing and said it would be making the election a referendum on Conservative leader David Cameron.

Coun Slater died on July 28 after collapsing in the Craven Heifer Inn, Darwen.

He lived with his wife, Jacqueline, in Minster Crescent, Darwen.

He was re-elected to East Rural ward with a majority of 652, or 93 per cent.

As well as his wife and sons John and Neil, he leaves five grandchildren.