Body Shop founder Anita Roddick has turned down an invitation to stand as an Independent MP in the former seat of disgraced Tory Neil Hamilton.

Political activists in Tatton, Cheshire, wrote to Ms Roddick to ask whether she would stand for election to succeed current Independent MP Martin Bell.

But Ms Roddick, whose Body Shop Empire is based in Littlehampton, has turned down their offer.

In a letter sent to the activists, known as The Tatton Group, her spokeswoman Helen Cocker wrote: "In view of her current commitments to various projects around the world, she does not feel that she would be able to devote the necessary time.

"She is very reluctant to simply lend her name to something without becoming really involved."

Ms Roddick, who set up her cosmetics business at a small shop in Brighton's Kensington Gardens 24 years ago, was unavailable for comment.

A spokeswoman at her office said she was out of the country promoting her book Business As Usual. But Don Briggs, chairman of The Tatton Group, said the Sussex-born entrepreneur had not completely ruled out standing as a parliamentary hopeful.

He said: "The letter states she cannot do it on this occasion so she may choose to take on the role in future."

In a letter to Ms Roddick, the group, founded earlier this year, outlined the qualities of their ideal candidate as someone with integrity, dynamism and a fine track record of leadership.

Martin Bell, the veteran BBC war journalist, vowed to stand for one term only before he defeated Mr Hamilton at the polls in a landslide victory in 1997.

He became the first Independent MP for 50 years after Mr Hamilton, a former junior minister, was ousted by voters over sleaze allegations.

Mr Bell said: "I know Anita Roddick's name has been mentioned but I wish to stay right out of the process. "If I say anything nice about anyone, people will presume I am trying to endorse them as my successor."