FORMER Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho has announced she is putting aside her Mayoral ambitions for personal and family reasons.

The ex-Labour MP had hoped to become the first female Metro Mayor and was hoping to give incumbent West Midlands Mayor Andy Street a run for his money in the next Mayoral election.

But she has today (Monday) announced she will not be seeking the nomination as the Labour Party’s Candidate for the West Midlands’ Metro Mayor in 2020 as she needs to devote more time to resolving a family health issue.

She said: "The recent decline in my father’s health following a stroke and the subsequent issues with his care is having an obvious effect on my family and working life.

"In these difficult circumstances I therefore do not feel able to devote the time and effort necessary to this demanding role at this current time.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team of volunteers, friends and supporters across the West Midlands Regional Labour Movement who have worked so hard on my behalf thus far and who were hoping to see a female candidate go forward for selection.

"I apologise to them for not being able to complete our campaign.

"I shall of course fully support whoever the party chooses as its candidate and wish he or she every success in May 2020."

Lye and Stourbridge North councillor Pete Lowe, former leader of Dudley Council, is among the candidates vying for selection as Labour's choice to go head to head with Tory Andy Street.

Hodge Hill Labour MP Liam Byrne is also seeking the party's nomination to be the official candidate.