THE Conservative party has selected three new candidates to contest the Shropshire Council seats in Ludlow at the local elections in May where they will be hoping to oust the Liberal Democrats.

Josh Boughton, James Durnall and Ian Scott Bell will contest Ludlow South, Ludlow East and Ludlow North, respectively.

Well known in Ludlow from his time as barman at the Horse & Jockey when open in Ludlow, Mr Boughton is passionate about delivering opportunity for all through employment, and has helped to organise and promote Jobs Fairs in Ludlow. He has been a serving infantry soldier in the Army Reserve for three years, and in the rest of his free time, volunteers as a teacher, working with classes of primary age children who need support to improve their age.

James Durnall, contesting Ludlow East, has worked in the healthcare sector for more than 20 years, and is supporting the NHS in the fight against Covid by fitting masks to NHS staff in Ludlow Hospital as well as in Shropshire hospitals, allowing health care professionals to work on Covid wards and care for desperately ill patients.

Ian Scott Bell, a company director, lives in the heart of Ludlow, is married to Ros and has three grown up children. He is a former soldier, has a keen interest in keeping business local, and backs policies that support job creation in the south of the county.