A former Brighton line signalman is on track to become the next leader of Britain's largest rail union.

Ray Spry-Shute, 50, who lives at Seven Dials within easy walking distance of Brighton station, is one of three candidates for the job of general secretary of the 60,000-strong Rail Maritime and Transport Union.

He faces a tough challenge from Bob Crowe, who is already RMT assistant general secretary, and Phil Bialyk, a union official from the South-West.

Ballot papers will be sent to union members at the end of the year and the result will be announced on February 13 2002.

The prize is the leadership of one of Britain's best known and most influential unions.

Previous leader Jimmy Knapp became a household name as the scourge of commuters through strikes and go-slows aimed at improving conditions for the union's members. He died from cancer in August aged 60.

Mr Knapp was a close friend of Mr Spry-Shute and they were members of the same union branch in Croydon.

Strict union rules restrict candidates' canvassing to a 300-word statement which will be sent to RMT members. The same rules bar the candidates from talking directly to the media about the election.

But some RMT insiders believe Mr Sprite-Shute has a good chance of getting the top job.

He is seen as a middle-of-the-road candidate, committed to carrying on Jimmy Knapp's modernisation work.

Mr Spry-Shute worked his way up from a teenage porter in Scotland. He went on to become a signalman and a station manager.

He is currently RMT education and training officer, commuting from Brighton each day to the union's headquarters near Euston station.

He knows the Brighton Line like the back of his hand, having worked as a signalman, supervisor and relief station manager, and has worked at virtually every station on the line.