Former mayor Jenny Barnard-Langston is to fight a Parliamentary seat in Kent at the next General Election.

Mrs Barnard-Langston, 53, switched from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats two years ago.

Mrs Barnard-Langston and her husband, Mark Barnard, were defeated in Central Hove ward for the Lib Dems at the 2003 local elections.

Now she has been selected to fight Canterbury, which is held by Tory MP Julian Brazier.

Lib Dems came third there last time but have been second in the past and run the city council.

Mrs Barnard-Langston, who chairs Brighton and Hove Lib Dems, will continue to live in the city.

But she will also have a base in Canterbury and is already making regular visits to the city.

It is 80 miles away and the journey from Brighton takes about 75 minutes.