A DOWNHAM councillor has been selected as the Lib Dem propsective parliamentary candidate for Lewisham East.

Councillor Julia Fletcher, deputy leader of the Lewisham Lib Dem group, is a school governor and has spoken out on issues including Lewisham Hospital and fire station closures.

She said: "I’m delighted to have been selected to stand in Lewisham East.  I look forward to highlighting important issues for the area such as improving prospects for young people through opportunities for skills training and encouraging more to be done to attract inward investment and jobs.

"For too long Lewisham has had the worst record on jobs of any borough in London.  I shall also campaign on housing, improving air quality and the environment and maintaining high standards in health and social care."

The Lib Dems finished second in the 2010 election, with Pete Pattisson losing out to Heidi Alexander by more than 6,000 votes.