A former Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Tony Miller, has been approved as a prospective Labour candidate for the May elections.

His selection by the regional Labour party for a panel of potential candidates follows a decision to axe three other former Lord Mayors.

Councillors Danny Mangham, Gordon Mitchell and Bob Sowman have appealed against the decisions and will put their cases to the North West division of the Labour party next month.

Labour party rules mean branches have to select their candidates from the panel and the three veteran councillors would have to step down in May if they lost their appeals.

Today Coun Miller, 62, said he had been showered with letters of support since the Telegraph & Argus exclusively revealed the plight of his three colleagues last week.

The 62-year-old Shipley East ward councillor, who was elected 20 years ago, said he now hoped the local branch would choose him as a candidate.

He thanked his family, friends and colleagues for their support and said the board had accepted he was a hard working councillor.