A 27-year-old West Countryman has been selected by the Labour Party to fight South East Cornwall at the general election.

He is Michael Sparling, who has already contested local government elections for Labour. He said it was a 'real privilege' to be selected to fight for the constituency.

'Whether it is the tolls, the incinerator or the state of our roads I know that the current fight between the Tories and Lib Dems in Cornwall is leaving local people left out in the cold.

'People are now realising that there is a choice at this election. A choice between a Labour Government that has invested in families, schools, colleges and hospitals in Cornwall, and a Conservative government that would risk our recovery here in Cornwall.'

Mr Sparling was born in Barnstaple and was educated at Launceston's St Joseph's School, Exeter Cathedral School, St Boniface's College and Plymouth College of Further Education. He has a degree in philosophy and politics from the University of Manchester.

He worked in the constituency office of former government minister Kitty Ussher and stood as a candidate in the Devon County Council elections in 2008.

Mr Sparling works for one of the world's largest airlines and is based in the West Country.