CHARLOTTE Barnes has been chosen by the Liberal Democrats as their prospective parliamentary candidate for Ludlow at the General Election.

Her selection marks the latest step in the rise of the politician from Bishops Castle who has only been a councillor for three years but in that time has risen to be deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group of Shropshire Council.

Charlotte and her husband Paul have two sons, Edward and Dominic, both attending local Shropshire schools. The couple run an electrical contracting business.

After working as a researcher for a firm of London head hunters, she was first elected in 2011 when veteran councillor Peter Phillips stood down and defended the seat in 2013 taking 62 per cent of the vote with an increased majority.

Councillor Barnes is a school governor, parish councillor and was elected to Shropshire Council in 2011.

She was elected as deputy group leader on Shropshire Council last year and is chairman of Bishops Castle Lib Dem Branch.

"We face some real challenges in this rural part of Shropshire being often neglected by both central government and the county,” she said.

“The threat of our hospital services disappearing, falling school rolls and a chaotic slash and burn council are just some of the problems our area faces."