HOGHTON and Wheelton county councillor Andrew Snowden will contest Labour incumbent Clive Grunshaw in next year’s race to be elected the county’s police and crime commissioner.

The Chorley resident, who is the authority’s deputy cabinet member for transport, was selected by his Conservative colleagues at a meeting of party members in Garstang on Sunday.

Cllr Snowden said: “If elected my first priority will be to ensure we invest every penny we can in front line policing, through ensuring the budget is well-managed with maximum efficiency.

“I would also prioritise tackling the underlying causes of crime through better partnerships with organisations and communities, investment in improving rural policing, getting tougher on anti-social behaviour and hate crime and focus on preventing the spread of knife and gang-related crime.”