BOLTON Euro-MP Chris Davies has won the backing of party members locally to fight next year's elections to the European Parliament.

The Liberal Democrat MEP, who last year was fined for possession of cannabis after making a political protest calling for a change in drug laws, was thought by some to be under threat of deselection.

He has upset some through his outspoken support for British membership of the euro, and for the support he has given to terminally ill patients such as Diane Pretty and Reg Crew to secure medical help to die.

But in a postal ballot he has emerged as the outright first choice of Liberal Democrat members across the North-west, winning with 53 per cent of all votes in a contest against 13 other candidates.

Solicitor Saj Karim could well become the Liberal Democrats' first non-white Euro-Parliamentarian if the party's hopes of winning at least two of the region's nine seats are realised.

A former councillor on Pendle Council, Mr Karim, aged 32, has been chosen as running mate to the MEP and will be spending much time over the next year getting to know other parts of the region.