VETERAN campaigner Chris Bramall will be fighting his fifth general election for the Lib Dems in Stourbridge come May 7.

The 72-year-old retired schoolteacher and solicitor who lives in Wollaston has finished third in his four previous attempts to win the Stourbridge seat and he said: "I hope to finish third again or do even better."

Originally from London, the former Dudley borough councillor for Norton has lived in Stourbridge for the past 26 years.

He said: "This time - and everyone agrees - the outcome of the general election is going to be very uncertain.

"I've always fought for Stourbridge's rights and my record is very clear on the issues for which I stand.

"I'm in favour of HS2, against leaving the EU, I believe passionately in climate change and I support the proposal of a West Midlands Urban Authority, because I believe it would give us more clout nationally and help obtain a better business rate like Manchester enjoys.

"I also believe UKIP have got it wrong on every issue and would urge people not to vote for them."

Mr Bramall remains upbeat despite his party's poor showing in the polls and predictions that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, will lose his seat.

He added: "Going into a coalition with the Conservatives was the right thing to do, because it saved the country from economic peril. It was for the benefit of the country but not necessarily the party.

"As a result, we've had a bit of a drubbing in the media, but we always finish up doing much better than the polls suggest."

Mr Bramall will be going into battle against Conservative Margot James, who has held the Stourbridge seat since 2010, Labour's Councillor Pete Lowe, who is leader of Dudley Council, UKIP's James Carver and recently-confirmed Green Party candidate Christian Kiever who will be campaigning for a "fully resourced and funded NHS, railways to be re-nationalised, a society that pays a living wage and free education for all".

Whatever the outcome on Thursday May 7, Mr Bramall intends to sit the final exam for his degree in international studies with the Open University on June 3.

The party's other candidates standing in Dudley borough constituencies are drawn from further afield.

Martin Turner from Alcester is the candidate for Dudley South; Mike Collins from Tewkesbury is standing in Dudley North; and Halesowen and Rowley Regis's Lib Dem candidate is Peter Tyzack from Severn Beach, Gloucestershire.