THE Conservative Party has selected a Bolton-born candidate for next year’s election for the post of Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Hoghton with Wheelton county councillor Andrew Snowden will take on current postholder Labour’s Clive Grunshaw who has held the job since 2012.

The Chorley resident, who was brought up by a single mother in Bolton, was selected at a meeting of party members in Garstang on Sunday.

County Cllr Snowden said: “If elected my first priority will be to ensure we invest every penny we can in front line policing, through ensuring the budget is well-managed with maximum efficiency.

“I would also prioritise tackling the underlying causes of crime through better partnerships with organisations and communities, investment in improving rural policing, getting tougher on anti-social behaviour and hate crime and focus on preventing the spread of knife and gang-related crime.

“These are all issues which have come up with colleagues across Lancashire."