WYRE Forest's Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate feels Dr Richard Taylor's decision to stand for Health Concern in the impending General Election could be beneficial - to sitting MP David Lock.

Mark Simpson fears Dr Taylor's bid for a place on the back benches could split the anti-Labour vote, and has insisted that the Conservatives offer "the only achievable alternative" to the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

He said: "David Lock must be a very satisfied man this week, as the only thing that could save him now would be a divided opposition.

"Wouldn't that be the supreme irony - that by fielding a candidate, Health Concern split the vote and let in by the back door the very Labour MP whom we all want to remove."

And Mr Simpson said he was "concerned and saddened" at Dr Taylor's announcement that he was crusading against the Tories as well as Labour.

Mr Simpson said: "We invented the concept of PFI, but it was the current Labour Government which relaxed the financial regulations - making such projects more attractive for investors.

"We're actually in coalition with Dr Taylor's colleagues on Wyre Forest District Council, unlike the Labour Party.

"I think it's unfortunate that he should choose to attack political allies rather than political enemies," he added.