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These are the four people battling it out to become Labour's North of Tyne mayoral candidate.

Former North Tyneside cabinet member Ian Grayson and Newcastle councillor Jamie Driscoll have became the latest pair to put themselves forward for the May 2 election.

They join North East MEP Paul Brannen and Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes in the battle for the Labour nomination.

The internal deadline to self-nominate has now passed so the party's candidate to be the first North of Tyne mayor must be drawn from the pool of four.

Candidates must now secure support from party branches and affiliated unions before a shortlist is drawn up by party bosses.

Labour members will decide on their candidate in an election set to run throughout January.

Mr Driscoll is a relative newcomer to politics having first got elected in the Monument ward in May 2018.

An engineer from Teesside who has lived in the North East for 30 years, he's involved in the Newcastle branch of Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum.

Asked what he would do as mayor, he said: "I would put economic democracy at the heart of what I do to make sure that money generated in the North East stays here.

"Practically, that would mean doing things like setting up a community housing corporation to provide affordable homes and then use the profits to support local services.

"I think this devolution deal is a start but as mayor I'd also be pushing for a proper regional assembly with tax-raising powers."

Mr Grayson, who spent five years overseeing children, young people and learning for North Tyneside Council, has also put himself forward.

Born in Harrogate, he's lived and worked in the North East since 1986, primarily as a teacher at Kenton Academy in Newcastle and is a branch secretary for the National Union of Teachers.

Asked why he wanted to be mayor, he said: "Education is a big part of this devolution deal and I've got a lot of experience in the field so feel like I have something to offer.

"I've supported efforts to get more devolved powers for the region since the start and I think this is a big opportunity for us to take control of important issues.

"If elected I'd focus on education and adult skills in order to improve training which in turn helps boost industry and the economy."

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

North East MEP Paul Brannen was the first to announce his candidacy, telling ChronicleLive he'd put investing in emerging industries at the heart of his campaign.

(Image: NCJ Media)

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes has also thrown his in the ring, saying he has the "credibility, experience and passion" to make a success of the role.