Sushila Dhall, the Oxford city and Oxfordshire county councillor, has been selected to fight Oxford East constituency for the Green Party at the general election, it was revealed this morning.

Her selection follows the departure of Peter Tatchell in December due to poor health.

Ms Dhall has lived, studied and worked in Oxford city for more than 25 and led campaigns in Oxford challenging the basis of large-scale commercial developments such as the Westgate expansion and the Northern Gateway proposals.

She works as a public sector counsellor and is the mother of an 11-year-old daughter who attends a local state school.

She said: "I am touched and proud to follow Peter Tatchell in representing the diverse and exciting constituency of Oxford East.

"My message is one of hope - the Greens offer practical ways forward out of the debt, pollution, war and profit-driven politics of today.

"I pledge my hard work, honesty and openness to Oxford East. Together we can work to make a positive difference."

Labour's Andrew Smith is the current MP for Oxford East.

The Conservative Party's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Oxford East is Ed Argar and the Liberal Democrat candidate is Steve Goddard.