A FORMER Tory councillor has announced his plans to stand for UKIP at May’s local elections.

It has not yet been decided which seat Stuart Lever, pictured, will run for, although he was previously a ward councillor for Astley Bridge for 12 years.

The 45-year-old said: “It wouldn’t matter what party I am – I was a very active when I was a councillor, and I don’t think who I am with would make a lot of difference.”

Joan Johnson, secretary of Bolton’s UKIP branch said: “Stuart became a member of UKIP in the summer and he has expressed an interest in being a candidate.”