THE Tory candidate hoping to become the next MP in Bolton West has urged his opponents to ‘play nice’ during the run-up to the election.

Chris Green, the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate, wrote to The Bolton News to ask all the candidates to ‘treat one another with dignity’.

He said: “During an election campaign, it is easy to get carried away, misspeak or forget that those you are talking to are not your usual audience.

“Politicians, whether paid by the public purse or candidates who want to make a difference, ought to be careful about what they say and how it will be interpreted.

“Democracy can so easily be undermined by thoughtless words and needless conflicts, so it is incumbent upon all the parliamentary candidates for Bolton West and more widely to commit to campaign with respect.”

Mr Green will stand against the incumbent Labour MP Julie Hilling, UKIP candidate Bob Horsefield, and Liberal Democrat candidate Cllr Andrew Martin.