A TORY MP who lost a by-election amid a row over where he lived has accused his opponents of double standards.

Nigel Evans bit the dust in the Ribble Valley by-election of 1992, after voters overturned former Tory Home Secretary David Waddington's 20,000 majority in protest against the controversial Poll Tax.

Liberal Democrat Michael Carr swept to victory, after his campaigners also complained that Mr Evans did not come from rural Ribble Valley.

But the Welshman, who fought back and was elected Ribble Valley MP in the 1993 General Election, today accused the Liberal Democrats of double standards in the run-up to Thursday's crucial Waddington by-election.

The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Waddington by-election is former Paddy Ashdown adviser William le Breton, who lives in the village of Rimington, across the valley.

Mr Evans called on the Liberal Democrats to come clean on the fact in campaign leaflets currently being delivered to Waddington households.

He said: "The Liberal Democrats are putting out leaflets about their candidate for the Waddington by-election, but not telling people that he doesn't live in the village. Let's be honest in politics. People need to know where candidates live and the Liberal Democrats take pride in being whiter than white.

"Their candidate lives nowhere near Waddington and villagers have a right to know. The Liberal Democrats should come clean about this before polling day. I remember the fact that I wasn't from the area being very important to them when I stood in the Ribble Valley by-election."

But Liberal Democrat spokesman Patricia Rawson, said: local polictics were facing far bigger issues than where prospective councillors lived.

"There are far more important issues in the Ribble Valley, such as the threat to the rural way of life, than where candidates live. Many councillors don't live in the wards they represent, but still work hard for their constituents. If this is all the Tories can fight us on, they don't deserve the votes of villagers."

William le Breton is also a former campaign manager for former BBC war correspondent Martin Bell and has lived in Rimington for 12 years.

"My wife and I owe much to the Ribble Valley. We love its unique way of life and strong sense of community. I am flattered that my campaign has attracted the attention of the Conservative Party spokesman for Wales," he said.

Thursday's by-election is a two-man race between William le Breton and Conservative Party candidate Roger Chaplin, a Waddington villager of 20 years.

It was called after the sudden resignation of deputy Ribble Valley council leader Harry Backhouse, who wanted to spend more time with his family.