The race to become the next MP for Bolton’s hardest-fought constituency took another step just after nominations closed.

This came as Labour’s Kirith Entwistle opened her new campaign office on Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, ahead of contesting the Bolton North East seat in the forthcoming general election.

Having been won by Conservative MP Mark Logan by just 378 votes in the last election in 2019, the seat is one of the most marginal anywhere in the country.

Ms Entwistle said: “Bolton deserves a local champion who'll defend and fight for our community.

“To deliver the change that Bolton needs, I need your support on Thursday, July 4.

Ms Entwistle has opened her campaign officeMs Entwistle has opened her campaign office (Image: Public)

“This is an election where even the former Tory MP has said a Labour government is better for Bolton and it is clear that people don’t want five more years of Rishi Sunak.

“After 14 years of chaos and broken promises with the Conservatives, Bolton deserves better with Labour.

“I’ve been campaigning on the issues that matter to local residents and I’ll always put Bolton first.”

Ms Entwistle, who works for a charity campaigning against loneliness and previously for the Royal British Legion, says that she plans to speak to residents all across the constituency.

She says she plans to focus her campaign on issues like NHS waiting lists and anti-social behaviour as well as funding for schools and tackling sewage being dumped into Bolton’s rivers.

Bolton North East is one of the most diverse of the borough’s three constituencies, stretching from areas like Little Lever and Darcy Lever to Breightmet, Tonge Moor and Halliwell.

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It also stretches out to parts of central Bolton, Astley Bridge and areas like Bromley Cross and Bradshaw.

Ms Entwistle will be up against Conservative candidate Cllr Adele Warren who was selected after previous Tory MP Mark Logan’s surprise decision to back Labour.

Also standing in Bolton North East will be Cllr Hanif Alli of the Green Party, Independent candidate Kevin Allsop, Liberal Democrat Rebecca Forrest, Refrom UK’s Trevor Jones, Syeda Misbah Kazmi of the Workers Party and Independent John Partington.

The general election will be held on Thursday July 4.