A Brighton-born nurse has become the first person to launch a formal bid to succeed David Lepper as Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion.

Nicole Murphy, who works at Worthing Hospital, told The Argus she hoped to secure the backing of local party members following Mr Lepper's decision to retire at the next election.

Mrs Murphy's chances were boosted by the Labour Party's decision to ban men from standing in the seat - against the wishes of the local party.

Labour insiders expect Mrs Murphy to be joined by "a good field of strong candidates" by the time nominations close later this month.

They may include Brighton and Hove City Councillor Gill Mitchell, who yesterday failed to rule herself out of the contest.

Mrs Murphy, 43, who grew up in Brighton and Hove, was an extra in the film Quadrophenia at the age of 16.

She attended Brighton schools and the University of Brighton and currently lives in Portslade with her husband and five children.

Last September Mrs Murphy declared her support for the Government's controversial health reforms - despite admitting they threatened her own job.

The change to a system in which hospitals vie for patients and get paid by results has been blamed for putting hundreds of jobs at risk in Sussex as health trusts battle to cut their debts.

Yesterday, Mrs Murphy admitted that the loss of any health services could make it "difficult" for her in an election campaign. But she said she was campaigning against the threatened closure of Worthing Hospital's accident and emergency department.

Last weekend she addressed a rally outside Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital in protest at the Government's decision to award nurses a pay rise of just 1.9 per cent.

Mrs Murphy said if elected she would campaign for greater use of Sussex Air Ambulance and more affordable housing for young people.

After nominations close on March 23, a shortlist of candidates will be invited to attend a hustings event at which local party members will choose their preferred candidate. The whole process is expected to take until the end of June. The next General Election must take place by May 2010 at the latest.

Later this month Simon Burgess, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, is expected to formally announce his bid to become Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, following Des Turner's decision to retire.