Chas Ball has been chosen to fight the Colne Valley seat for the Green Party.

He will take on Tory MP Jason McCartney in next year's General Election.

Mr Ball contested the seat in 2009 and has been a candidate for Kirklees Council for Crosland Moor and Netherton since 2008. He lives in Beaumont Park and is a transport consultant.

Speaking to party members following his adoption as candidate Chas Ball said: "I am pleased to be selected and would be honoured to represent the electors of Colne Valley. Greens represent the party of hope against the austerity policies of the three main parties, which are at times indistinguishable from each other. We reject the politics of prejudice of UKIP.

"The people of Colne Valley constituency have an opportunity to support Green Party policies on climate change, economic justice and decentralization of power. Let's focus on the sort of society we want to live."

Mr Ball retired this month as chief executive of Leeds-based national transport charity Carplus Trust, which promotes shared transport.

He has been actively involved in the international association for public transport (UITP) and earlier this year contributed to Cabinet Office workshops on the shared economy.

He was founder of City Car Club in 1999 and left in 2007. The company's operations centre was based in the Media Centre, Huddersfield for six years.

Locally, he is a member of the management group of Kirklees Environment Partnership; a shareholder in Green Valley Grocers co-op; and a member of the Red and Green Club, Milnsbridge.