A YOUNG Kendal councillor has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Morecambe & Lunesdale at the 2015 General Election.

Matt Severn grew up in Bolton-le-Sands and was a pupil at the primary school and Ripley St Thomas High School in Lancaster.

He will now take on sitting Conservative MP David Morris, who was elected in May 2010 after taking the seat from long-standing Labour MP, Geraldine Smith, with an 866 majority.

Traditionally, the seat has seen a two-way tussle between the Tories and Labour, with the Lib Dems coming third in 2010 with 13 per cent of the vote.

In May this year, Mr Severn was elected to the Underley ward of Kendal for South Lakeland District Council.

He lives with his wife Penny in Kendal and works for an insurance broker in the town.

His party says he has a 'long and successful record of campaigning on health issues across Morecambe Bay'.

Matt said his campaign will focus on the need for more jobs and apprenticeships, improvements and investment in local hospitals and better transport funding.

" I am honoured to be selected to be the prospective MP for my home area at the next General Election," he said.

"As the only candidate with real local links, I am excited to get to work for Morecambe & Lunesdale. I want to help create more apprenticeships in our area and secure a better deal on funding for our local hospitals and transport for Morecambe and Lunesdale."