CONSERVATIVE MP Ann Widdecombe will be swapping Westminster for Ramsbottom when she visits the town to talk about her life as a politician and author in a sold-out show.

Ms Widdecombe, who retired from the Shadow Front Bench in 2001 and has spent the last five years penning four novels, will be the guest speaker at a fundraising dinner at Ramsbottom Civic Hall, in Market Place, on Friday, January 27.

The event is already a sell-out with the ticket sales used to boost funds for the development of Tottington village hall at St Anne's Church in Chapel Street.

St Anne's vicar, Rev Hugh Bearns, said: "Ann came for tea about three years ago. She was passing the vicarage and popped in for a cup of tea and had a bit of a chat. We then wrote to her to ask if she wanted to be a guest speaker and luckily she agreed and it should be a very good night."