NEXT month's local elections in Blackburn with Darwen will have four Green Party candidates including a singer who appeared on The Voice UK in 2012.

The environmental political organisation has revealed is slate of four hopefuls in the borough when it goes to the polls on May 2nd.

The Green Party has made progress across East Lancashire in recent years and now has seven elected representatives on Burnley Council which it helps run in a coalition with the Burnley Independent Group of ex-Labour members who quit over Gaza and the Liberal Democrats.

It has two councillors on Hyndburn Council and one on Rossendale Council.

Its candidate in Blackburn's Audley and Queen's Park ward is 24-year old Aadil Chopdat.

He is standing for his first time in the ward in which he lives and where he attended primary school.

Mr Chopdat is a telecoms engineer, has also worked as a mental health outreach worker and recently did a skydive to raise funds for Gaza.

Another first timer, standing for Darwen South, is local singer/songwriter Denise Morgan.

She is known most widely for appearances on The Voice both here and in Ireland.

Ms Morgan is passionate about animal rights in particular.

Standing in Ewood will be former Labour councillor for the area and executive member, John Milburn.

He is now with the Green Party since becoming disillusioned with his old party.

Blackburn and Darwen Green Party co-ordinator Robin Field, who is standing for Wensley Fold ward, said: "I think most people know that the old parties have let us down badly.

"On the environment, whatever the hot air and box ticking by government or local council, things just get worse.

"But now on Gaza too, the leadership of both Conservative and Labour parties has been appalling and bigoted.

"In contrast, the Green Party has always stood up for Palestine.

"I myself as a young teacher back in the 70's even spent time in a refugee camp at an UNWRA-run school and find it so depressing how much worse everything has become.

"It's time for a change."