A BROADSTONE councillor has been chosen to fight the seat being vacated by MP Annette Brooke at the next election.

Vikki Slade threw her hat into the ring and has been chosen as Liberal Democrats prospective parliamentary candidate to fight the Mid Dorset and North Poole seat, after Annette Brooke, who was first elected in 2001, announced she would not stand again in 2015.

Cllr Slade, 40, was elected to Borough of Poole in May 2011, is married to Paul, has four children aged between five and 11, and runs her own business in Broadstone.

Convincingly elected to fight the seat, she defeated her two opponents in the first round of voting. “The work starts now. It's going to be a challenge,” she said.

She added: “I am delighted to have been selected and I will work as hard as I possibly can to ensure the constituency remains in Liberal Democrat hands.”

At the last general election in 2010 Annette Brooke was re-elected with a majority of just 269.

“I am extremely pleased that there is an opportunity for the electorate to return another female MP, given the current representation of Dorset by seven male MPs and me,” said Annette.

“Vikki has a very similar background to me, working and living in our local community, and wide experience from being a Poole Borough councillor.”

The Broadstone councillor has lived in the constituency for 14-years, has been a volunteer with Young Enterprise in local schools and her involvement led to the re-opening of Broadstone Youth Centre.

Vikki acknowledged: “Some things the coalition has done have not helped our cause. However we have done 60 per cent of the policies in our manifesto.”

The Conservatives have adopted barrister Michael Tomlinson as their prospective parliamentary candidate.