Leader of Sunderland Council's Conservative group, Coun Lee Martin, beat off competition from Simon Nayyar and Ryedale councillor Edward Legard to be named candidate for the newly- created Sunderland Central seat at a public meeting on Thursday.

This is the first time the Tories have used the U.S.-style "primary" system of selecting candidates in a fresh approach which aims to give all voters living in the constituency the chance to have their say, even if they are not party members.

Coun Martin said he was honoured to have been chosen.

"I think it's important that the Conservatives, if they are serious about Sunderland and the North East as a region, have a candidate who is from the city," he said.

"I am from Sunderland and as leader of the Conservative group on the council I feel I can feed up the views of the Sunderland people to the party, not only locally but nationally, so the government is doing as much for Sunderland people as it is for other parts of the country."

Coun Martin, whose main policies include supporting the campaign to bring back the Adelaide and providing more affordable homes and better transport, will be vying for the Sunderland central seat in the next general election, when the four constituencies that cover Wearside will be cut to three.

At the moment, the city is covered by Sunderland South, Sunderland North, Houghton and Washington East and Washington West and Gateshead East.Under the changes a new seat, Sunderland Central, will be created along with Sunderland North and Washington, and Sunderland South and Houghton.