THE popular founder of a Stourbridge community organisation that works to help the homeless has announced she is to stand for election as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats.

Vi Wood, who founded Leslie’s Care Packages in memory of her late husband, is to stand for the Pedmore and Stourbridge East seat in the local election in May.

Life skills worker Vi has devoted the past eight years to supporting vulnerable and homeless people through her organisation.

She said: “I’ve spent the better part of the last decade supporting people in need across the West Midlands. But it’s clear to me that until we fix our broken politics, people will continue to be left behind.

“Dudley is failing in its obligation to support the most vulnerable in our society, they say there’s no money left, but there seems to be no end of money for luxury trips abroad and for pointless vanity projects.”

Councillor Ryan Priest, the only Liberal Democrat councillor on Dudley Council, said: “Vi has exactly the kind of experience and skills that Dudley Council is missing. A proper community activist who does it out of the goodness of her heart, not just to get elected and certainly not just at election time. I’m looking forward to her joining me in the council chamber.”

As Dudley heads to a special local election in May where residents will have three votes each, the Liberal Democrats are hoping their recent election success in Cradley and Wollescote and in Kinver can be replicated.

Vi will be joined on the ballot by Lib Dem veteran and former councillor David Sheppard and local accountant and former Dudley Town FC manager Nigel Kirkham.