CONSERVATIVE campaigning for York's second by-election next month started today with the naming of their candidate.

Ken Creek, a party member for 22 years, will stand in the election to replace Labour councillor Peter Dodd in the Monk ward.

Mr Dodd resigned from City of York Council last week due to ill health.

Mr Creek has acted as Tory agent in York since 1998, and was Ryedale MP John Greenway's agent in 1996.

He stood as candidate in the Micklegate ward in last year's elections, winning 890 votes.

An issue central to his campaign will be saving money in the council's bureaucracy to halt cuts in services.

Mr Creek said: "If I represent this ward I will use my influence to make sure services run more efficiently."

The Labour Party will be represented by Alistair MacDonald in the by-election on May 18. A by-election is also being held in Bootham ward on May 11 after Coun Ken Cooper resigned owing to ill health.