INDEPENDENT councillor Philip Alnatt has revealed he is considering standing as an MP at next month's general election.

Mr Alnatt, 55, said he wanted to challenge James Gray, Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, but was seeking the support of friends and family over the weekend before making a final decision. He said: "I have been giving this serious consideration for a while but now it is decision time."

But Mr Alnatt, who lives at Lady Coventry Road, Chippenham, said it would be expensive without big party support, and expected campaigning costs to be around £10,000.

Mr Alnatt, a town, district and county councillor for several years, is also intending to stand as a county councillor for Wootton Bassett South, which has been Tory Toby Sturgis's seat for eight years.

So far, Mr Alnatt's opposition includes Mr Gray (Con), Paul Fox (Lib Dem) and Neil Dowdney (UKIP).

For Wootton Bassett South ward, he will be standing against Mr Sturgis (Con) and Louise Mortlock (Lib Dem). Any other candidates are not yet known.