JULIE Kirkbride says it has been a pleasure and privilege to be Bromsgrove's MP for the last four years.

She is standing again for the Conservatives on ''my record of hard work and dedication to people of Bromsgrove''.

Miss Kirkbride said: ''As part of my efforts on your behalf, I have campaigned to keep the green belt, fought the closure of Kidderminster General Hospital and the consequent increase in local hospital waiting lists, lobbied to keep open Beoley and Tardebigge first schools, as well as concerning myself with traffic problems such as the A491, the Bordesley bypass and noise abatement on the M42, to name but a few of the issues which concern local people.''

She added: ''Nationally, we need a Conservative Government which will cut fuel tax by 6p, take one million pensioners out of income tax and abolish tax on savings for all lower rate payers.

''We will keep Labour's spending plans on health and education but ensure Bromsgrove's schools receive a fairer share of the cake.

''We will also put the 20 police officers lost to Bromsgrove since 1997 back on the beat.

''On Europe, we will be in it but not run by it and we are the only party pledged to keep the pound.''