SOUTHAMPTON'S troubled Itchen Conservative Association met last night to try and select a candidate to fight the forthcoming General Election.

But the question of who will take on Labour's John Denham in May's expected contest has still to be resolved, according to party insiders.

About ten Conservative party members attended the 40-minute meeting to try and select a candidate.

But the Daily Echo understands that a further meeting needs to be staged before the issue is finally resolved.

Senior party officials, such as deputy chairman of the association Councillor Adrian Johnson and the association's 86-year-old chairman Clifford Combes, did not attend the meeting, which was run by Conservative Central Office, according to local party insiders.

Two Southampton Conservative councillors, Bitterne Park's Ivan White and Sholing's Councillor Gavin Dick, were also present at the meeting, which took place in the St John's Ambulance Hall in Dean Road, Bitterne.

The Daily Echo understands that a minimum of 16 members of the party needed to be present at the meeting before a decision could be made.

Itchen Conservative Association deputy chairman Councillor Adrian Johnson said: "We still wish to choose a candidate in accordance with the rules of the party and see Michael Howard elected as the next Prime Minister."

Conservative Party campaign director for Hampshire Steve Brine, pictured, said: "The situation is still that this is an internal party procedure and that when we are in a position to name a candidate we will do so."

The wrangle over the choice of candidates was revealed in the Daily Echo last March.

Local Tories wanted the deputy leader of the Conservative Group on Southampton City Council, Councillor Royston Smith, 39, to fight the seat. But the Harefield councillor's bid failed when he was not selected to be on the so-called Tory list of official candidates.