A NEW local party set up by two former Brexit Party candidates has been given the go ahead by the Electoral Commission.

The independent body for elections has authorised Bolton For Change as a party allowing it to field candidates in England.

This means that the newly-formed party can stand in the Bolton Council elections in May with their name on the ballot paper.

The new group has been formed by the ex-Brexit Party candidate for Bolton North-East Trevor Jones and his Leigh counterpart James Melly.

They hope to put up candidates in at least 14 of the 20 wards up for grabs.

The pair told The Bolton News they have had a lot of interest.

Their move follows Bolton's only Brexit Party councillor, Cllr Mark Cunningham, defecting to the Conservatives in February, months after he defected from UKIP.

Cllr Cunningham, who represents Kearsley ward, is up for reelection in May.