FORMER Penrith MP Neil Hudson has been selected to stand for a new constituency in Essex, after he missed out on the Cumbrian seat during the selection process.

Dr Hudson has been selected as the Conservative candidate for Epping Forest and will fight to be the constituency's MP at the General Election on July 4.

Former Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing announced the news on social media yesterday evening, June 3

She said "It has been an honour to serve as your MP since 1997.

"Epping Forest is a wonderful place to live, work, and visit, and I wish all of you, including my successor Dr Neil Hudson, very best wishes for the future."

Dr Hudson has been the MP for Penrith and the Borders since the 2019 election, however lost out to former Workington MP Mark Jenkinson for the new Penrith and Solway during the Conservative selection process.