AN ex-Big Brother contestant will bid to become a West Oxfordshire district councillor in May.

Derek Laud is set to run for the Liberal Democrats in the Witney West ward in this year's local elections.

The 54-year-old was a political aide and speechwriter for Conservative Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, but will be remembered by some for his time on Big Brother.

Mr Laud was the tenth person to be evicted when he appeared on the reality TV show back in 2005.

He is focused on improving transport links across the county, including bringing back the Witney to Oxford railway and ending congestion on the A40.

Mr Laud is also bidding to tackle 'the increasing number' of fatalities on the new A40 roundabout built for the West Witney housing development, although it is unconfirmed how many deaths have occurred at the new junction.

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He said: "For a long time I've had a national platform and I want to use that to the benefit of local people.

Mr Laud also said he was 'concerned' about the state of Oxfordshire's roads, calling them 'the worst of any county I've lived in'.

The London-born candidate was also the co-founder and executive director of the New City Initiative, a think tank and financial lobbying company, which he has since left.

The two current councillors for Witney West are Louise Chapman and Harry Eaglestone, who were first elected 21 and 12 years ago respectively.

The district council elections are scheduled for Thursday, May 2, where 16 seats will be contested.