Soap star Tracy Brabin has been elected Labour candidate for Batley and Spen.

Ms Brabin, also a screen writer, beat Jane Thomas to the post and will now fight to win the seat made vacant by the killing of Jo Cox MP.

She was voted in by Batley party members at a packed hustings event at Upper Batley High School on Friday night.

Ms Brabin, who appeared in Coronation Street as Tricia Armstrong, Emmerdale and EastEnders, was born in Batley.

She has also written for shows including Family Affairs, Tracy Beaker and Hollyoaks.

She worked with Mrs Cox on her campaign to save the town’s library.

Ms Brabin will now stand in a possible by-election on October 20 that will be held if even just one other political party put in a nomination for a candidate by September 27.

Jane Thomas shortlisted for the Batley and Spen constituency

The main parties will not put up candidates but several fringe parties, including the English Democrats, have previously announced their intention to stand.

If other candidates do not come forward, then the Labour Party’s candidate will be automatically selected as the new MP.

Defeated Ms Thomas lives in Sheffield and was the Labour candidate for Keighley in the 2010 general election.

Until recently she was Head of the England Team for Friends of the Earth.