A Bicester councillor has won the nomination for the third time to become Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Banbury constituency.

Les Sibley was delighted to win the overwhelming backing of local party members, and will now fight the sitting Conservative MP Tony Baldry for the third time at the next General Election.

Mr Sibley said: "I'm looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in the local political arena, and believe that health and public services will be the battleground."

He has been a leading campaigner against the closure of the 12-bed Bicester Hospital, and supporter of the campaign to get the town's promised 30-bed community hospital built.

He said: "Community or cottage hospitals with in-patient beds provide vital health services and support to patients and residents throughout Oxfordshire, and must be kept open in order to relieve the pressures on acute hospitals like the Oxford John Radcliffe and The Horton in Banbury.

"Local hospitals with beds allow patients to return to the community where their own GPs and medical staff could monitor their progress and recovery."

Mr Sibley, who has lived in Bicester for nearly 40 years, came second to Mr Baldry in the 2005 General Election, polling 15,585 votes to 26,382. He said: "A good MP is focused and committed full-time for the constituents."