A STALWART Cradley Heath councillor has been reinstated as a candidate for this year’s local elections in a U turn by the regional Labour Party.

Cllr Ann Shackleton, who represents Cradley Heath and Old Hill and is the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, was told today (Tuesday) that the decision to drop her from the list of would-be candidates to stand in May's local elections had been reversed and an appeal had been successful.

Cllr Shackleton said she was pleased at the news and had been "overwhelmed" by the support she had received since being effectively sacked.

She said she only wished to be selected from the list to stand in the ward she currently represents, saying: "I know the people, I know the area, I have lived here for 40 years."

She first won the seat in 2004, but Labour Party rules require that would-be candidates are chosen from a list drawn up by the regional party.

Despite being selected again by the local Labour Party she was dropped by the regional Labour Party.