Trudy Harrison has been selected as the Conservative candidate in the race to become Copeland's next MP.

Mrs Harrison, of Bootle, was chosen by party members in a behind-closed-doors vote tonight and will stand in the by-election to replace Jamie Reed on Thursday, February 23.

Mrs Harrison, 40, lives in Bootle with her husband Keith and four daughters.

She said: "This important by-election is an opportunity for the people of Copeland to send a message that the referendum result must be respected.

"Copeland has had Labour MPs and Labour councils for years.

"They’ve ignored us and failed to deliver the jobs, infrastructure and services we need, and now they want to ignore how we voted in the referendum.

"I look forward to meeting as many local residents as possible in the coming weeks and setting out how voting Conservative this time will support our local nuclear industry, and deliver the investment Copeland deserves."

A former Copeland Council and Sellafield worker, she has been the driving force behind award-winning community initiative Bootle 2020, which has helped breathe new life into the village.

From 2004 to 2007, she was a parish councillor in Bootle and is an active member of Bootle Community Action Plan Committee and subsequent Bottle in Cumbria Community Interest Company.

Also selected for the by-election are Gillian Troughton for Labour, Rebecca Hanson for the Liberal Democrats, Fiona Mills for Ukip and Jack Lenox for the Green Party.

Mr Reed formally resigned from Parliament on Friday for a job at Sellafield.