BLACKWOOD councillor Kevin Etheridge is to declare his nomination to fight the Islwyn parliamentary seat for the Liberal-Democrats on Monday, we can reveal.

Rumours of his candidacy have been flying around for several weeks. Tuesday is the last day for nominations to be accepted.

Mr Etheridge said he had left his nomination to the last moment because he has to resign from his job as a civil servant.

He said: "I left the announcement until the last minute because of my having to resign from a job I have been in for 22-years. This was a difficult decision to make."

An official announcement of his intentions to become a prospective parliamentary candidate will be made on Monday and Mr Etheridge will resign as a design examiner at Newport's Patent Office on Sunday.

He said: "Being the bread winner with four children, it would have been impossible for me to declare my candidature beforehand, the government rules would have obliged me to resign.

"I will not be paid during the time of the election. "I have been contacted by a number of my constituents asking me to contest the seat because of my views on the environment and the protection of our green fields."

Labour currently hold the seat with Don Touhig gaining 26,995 votes in the last election.

This compares to the Liberal Democrat Party candidate, Christopher Worker, who had 3,064 votes.

Mr Etheridge says he will stand because he feels passionately about issues such as the Sirhowy Enterprise Way and improving the police presence in the constituency.

He said: "I believe the electorate in Islwyn are looking for an alternative." The Conservative candidate contesting Islwyn is Philip Howells, whose party came third in the last election. Mary Millington represents the Socialist Labour Party and Leigh Thomas is standing for Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales.