A 23-YEAR-old university student will contest Worth Valley Ward for the Labour party in the local elections this May.

Faiz Ilyas said he felt honoured and excited to have been chosen as the Labour candidate for this ward, adding that he was looking forward to the challenge of the election campaign.

He will be looking to unseat Conservative councillor Rebecca Poulsen, who confirmed earlier this month that she had been picked to defend her seat.

Cllr Poulsen said: "I'm delighted that I've been selected by the Worth Valley Conservatives to be their candidate in May's local elections for the Worth Valley Ward.

"I look forward to the campaign ahead and asking residents to support me in representing them."

Cllr Poulsen, who lives in Haworth, has represented the Worth Valley for more than seven years.

Earlier this year she became deputy leader of Bradford Council's Conservative group.

Mr Ilyas said: "I do understand that historically this has been a Conservative ward but that doesn't faze me.

"I'm quietly confident and will be giving it my best shot. I think I can bring some fresh ideas and enthusiasm and I've already done some research into the issues the area faces.

"The people I've spoken to in the ward have talked about issues such as building on green field sites, disruption to the tourist industry as well as traffic and public transport.

"I'm sure I'll discover more concerns once I properly get onto the campaign trail."

Mr Ilyas, who was born and brought up in Bradford, joined Labour in 2014, and has been involved with supporting other candidates in previous council elections.

The former Bradford Grammar School pupil is on a sabbatical year at Bradford University, where he is student affairs officer. Once his term in office finishes he will resume his course in civil and structural engineering.