A CANDIDATE on Blaenau Gwent's all-women shortlist has denied trying to upset picketers at a Labour meeting.

Sonia Behr, a lawyer from Nantyglo, is among five women aiming to become the area's Labour parliamentary candidate.

An all-women list is being used to choose MP Llew Smith's successor despite a boycott by the local party, who have condemned the move as "undemocratic".

Assembly Member Peter Law has threatened to stand against his own party at the next general election in protest at the move.

The woman candidate will be chosen at a meeting at Ebbw Vale leisure centre on December 11, when further protests, led by both Llew Smith and Peter Law, are planned.

But protesters who gathered outside an Ebbw Vale meeting to introduce candidates on November 21 say that Ms Behr tried to incite them.

Ms Behr insists she has done nothing wrong and was merely joking.

Former Ebbw Vale steel worker Roy Nancarrow, 59, was on the picket, and said: "When Ms Behr arrived at Ebbw Vale leisure centre she passed the peaceful protesters, and shouted, 'Go on then, hit me, hit me, hit me, go on then, hit me'.

"Ms Behr, who could have easily started trouble, only succeeded in devaluing herself and womankind by shouting out these uncalled- for remarks."

Ms Behr's comments were also heard by Blaenau Gwent Labour councillor Don Wilcox.

Councillor Wilcox said: "I heard what she said and it sounded like a lot of nonsense to me. I don't think it is the kind of behaviour you want from a solicitor and someone who wants to be an MP.

"We were trying to register a dignified protest and she tried to intimidate us and turn it into something else."

Ms Behr told the Argus that it was a light-hearted gesture and expressed surprise that anyone had complained.

Ms Behr said: "When I got out of the car the picket was across the steps. It's just in my nature to joke about things and I made a light-hearted comment with a smile something like, 'come on boys, hit me'. As far as I knew everyone laughed and there was just a bit of banter."

The Wales Labour Party declined to comment.