THE new chairman of Greater Manchester Police Authority was due to be chosen today at its annual meeting.

The favourite to take over the post, vacated when Stephen Murphy lost his post after a shock defeat at the local elections in June, is his temporary replacement, magistrate Derek Osbaldestin, from Worsley. Mr Osbaldestin is chairman of Salford magistrates. He has been on the authority since 1997.

Also in contention is Labour Cllr Warren Bray who has represented Tameside on the authority since 2000 and is chairman of the corporate planning and performance and review committees. Salford member Cllr Peter Connor, a member of the authority since 1995 and chairman of the finance, personnel and audit committees, is also in the running.