PHILIP Dunne will face a challenge from Labour, a Liberal Democrat and Green party candidate in the General Election.

He will be looking for his fifth successive victory after taking the Ludlow constituency from the Liberal Democrats in 2005.

Traditionally a fight between Conservative and Liberal Democrats this changed in 2017 when Labour Julia Buckley came second.

But she has been selected to take on Daniel Kawczynski in Shrewsbury & Atcham.

So, the Labour hopeful this time is former Telford Council leader Kuldip Sahota.

Heather Kidd, the Shropshire councillor for Chirbury and Worthen, is standing for the Liberal Democrats. It will be the third time she has stood for the Liberal Democrats in Ludlow, having been beaten by Mr Dunne in 2010 and 2017.

Mrs Kidd was not the Liberal Democrat Candidate in 2015 when the party was represented by Charlotte Barnes, considered a highflyer with the party and at the time the Shropshire councillor for Bishops Castle.

But it was a terrible night for the party locally and nationally with Ms Barnes, who has since stood down from Shropshire council, coming third behind UKIP.

Hilary Wendt is standing for the Green Party.

UKIP has performed well in recent general elections in Ludlow and Mr Dunne will be relieved that the Brexit Party has decided not to stand against sitting Conservative MPs.

This should make it easier for Mr Dunne, who no longer faces losing ‘Leave’ votes to the Brexit party.

The general election on Thursday, December 12 will be the first winter general election since February 1974.

It will be the first December general election since 1923 which followed one in December 1918 at the end of the first world war.

The impact of the winter poll with the dark nights and cold will partly depend upon the weather on the day.