Tory MP Anthony Steen will face a challenge from the Green Party at the next general election.

Lydia Somerville, from Dartington, has been officially selected to fight Mr Steen for the Totnes seat.

Mrs Somerville, 45, will be the first Green Party candidate to stand in Totnes since 1997.

She told 999Dartington: "I am standing as the Green Party candidate because I want a truly green agenda for people to vote for.

"Only the Green Party is honestly facing up to the hard environmental issues I believe we all need to resolve.

"It's no longer just a lifestyle choice. Conventional politicians and big business rely on endless growth and ever more consumption of resources to keep the economy going, as if there is no alternative.

"The Green Party presents the alternative way forward. We need to live within the boundaries of what our planet can support. That is the big ecological message. Clearly we need to consume less and actively reduce our energy demand and our reliance on oil.

"The Green Party offers a uniquely different direction based on common sense and long-term thinking."

Mr Steen, who retained his seat with a majority of more than 1,500 over the Liberal Democrats in 2005, has been the MP for the Totnes and South Hams seats since 1983.

Devon County Councillor Julian Brazil is the prospective Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, while Jeff Beer will try and win the Totnes seat for the UK Independence Party.