THE Daily Echo can exclusively reveal the five candidates who are vying to step into Eastleigh MP David Chidgey's shoes after he retires.

Initially 15 people applied for the position of Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for the town.

This was whittled down to five and the winner will be announced on Saturday, June 14 after a vote of local party members.

Two of the hopefuls live locally; they are Eastleigh councillors Louise Bloom and Steve Sollitt.

Regional figures to throw their hats in the ring are Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne, Simon Green from Chichester, West Sussex, and John Vincent from Reigate in Surrey.

Councillor Louise Bloom is executive member for the environment on Eastleigh Council and lives in Hedge End. She is a vocal campaigner for environmental issues.

Councillor Steve Sollitt is a high profile Lib Dem and has only just won his seat back at the local government elections after a shock defeat last year. He lives in Eastleigh and was beaten in the 2001 general election for the position of MP for Basingstoke.

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne is the biggest political heavyweight in the race. He is the deputy leader of the UK Lib Dems in the European parliament and economic spokesman.

Mr Huhne has fought a long battle in Europe for a full investigation into 300 job losses at Pirelli in Bishopstoke.

Simon Green has been a prospective parliamentary candidate for West Dorset and is on the approved MEP list. He cites his occupation as landowner and farmer with a tourism business.

John Vincent is also on the approved MEP list for the Liberal Democrat party and is an engineer from Reigate in Surrey.