ROBERT Kilroy-Silk's new Veritas party has announced that its first candidate in the country will stand in Bolton.

David Hodgson will contest a by-election in the White Horse ward of Westhoughton Town Council.

The ballot for the seat, vacated when councillor Kieran Tapster was disqualified from the council for not attending any meetings in the past six months, is expected to take place on May 5 - which could be the date of a general election.

Mr Tapster has not attended the council because he is making regular trips to Ireland to visit his father who is seriously ill.

Mr Hodgson, an ex-shipyard worker and retired prison officer who once captained the English Karate team, will make history as the first candidate the party has put up for office - unless Prime Minister Tony Blair calls a General Election on the same day.

Mr Hodgson has pledged to campaign for a better infrastructure for Westhoughton as he believes it is wrong to continue to allow developments without better services in place.

Election officers have revealed that they have received the ten requests needed to force a by-election in the ward following Mr Tapster's disqualification.

The announcement comes just days before Mr Kilroy-Silk visits Bolton to give a speech at the Pack Horse Hotel in Nelson Square, on Wednesday. He formed the party following his acrimonious split with the leadership of the UK Independence Party shortly after he was elected to the European Parliament under the party's banner.