ONE of St John's' best-known political figures is hoping to make his return to the Guildhall after an absence of five years.

Labour Councillor Richard Udall stood down from Worcester City Council in 2003 after 13 years' service, after his father was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Coun Udall has continued to represent the St John's ward on Worcestershire County Council - to which he was elected in 1995 - and now hopes to make his return to the Guildhall when the next local council elections are held on May 1.

The local businessman has been chosen by Labour Party members in St John's to contest the ward seat currently occupied by long-standing Independent member Councillor Margaret Layland.

Coun Udall said: "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity by local party members to stand for Labour at the forthcoming city council elections.

"I was born and bred in St John's and have been proud to represent the area on different councils for the last 17 years.

"During that time I hope local residents have seen that I am always prepared to stand up for the people I represent and the issues that matter to them."

Coun Udall was one of Worcester's youngest-ever councillors when he was elected onto the city council in 1991, aged just 22.

He served on the council until 2003, before standing down to concentrate on helping his father.

A keen supporter of the Co-op movement, Coun Udall is the longest-serving chairman of the Wales and Borders regional board of the Co-op group, owners of the Co-op supermarkets in St John's and Dines Green.

His opponent, Coun Layland, expressed her disappointment that Coun Udall had decided to stand against her in May.

"I'm disappointed that Richard is standing against me, because he knows my track record in St John's," she said. "He knows how important the people of the ward are to me, and how much I've helped them over the years.

"I'm really proud to have represented St John's for the past 16 years and I hope to continue to do so in the future."