Witney Labour MP Shaun Woodward's decision to stand for St Helens shows he is running away from west Oxfordshire and his party's record, according to local Conservatives.

Mr Woodward, who quit the Tories in December 1999, was narrowly selected to fight the "safe" Labour seat in Merseyside on Sunday. St Helen's South, a working-class constituency, recorded a 23,000 Labour majority in 1997.

The Conservative candidate for Witney, David Cameron said: "Labour have let down rural districts like ours, with higher petrol taxes and hospital closures.

"Shaun Woodward's decision to go to Merseyside shows they are running away from their record. People in west Oxfordshire can now choose a new MP and I will be campaigning vigorously between now and polling day to win their trust and support."

There have, however, been rumours of local party members going to Merseyside to help canvass against him.

Party worker David Harvey said: "Despite numerous offers to enlighten the people of St Helens, I have not yet heard of any bookings to take a bus up there."

Barry Norton, Witney Tory party agent who worked closely with Mr Woodward at the last General Election, said: "We are putting Shaun Woodward behind us. We are very buoyed by the start we have had in the current campaign."

Mr Woodward has declined to respond to calls by the Oxford Mail for comment. He was elected as a Tory in Witney in 1997 and switched to Labour two years later.

Labour's new Witney candidate Mike Bartlet said: "Shaun has been a first rate MP for Witney, a Labour MP working with a Labour Government. I, of course, wish him well."