A COMMUNITY activist standing for the city council in Bishopthorpe is pledging to put village needs before party political ties.

Carole Green has put herself forward as an independent candidate for the ward, and said that with no party line to toe she will be able to work for the best interests of Biishopthorpe and Acaster Malbis instead.

Carole, who has served as a parish councillor, church councillor and school governor, has previously stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate, but has this time decided to go without the endorsement of a national party.