Labour's next MP candidate for Carlisle will be a woman - despite local members voting against an all-female shortlist.

The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) has decided to impose an all-woman list, despite the views of the local party.

Elsie Martlew, chairwoman of the Carlisle Labour Party, said she was "disappointed" with the move.

It comes as the Labour Party looks to get on the front foot by appointing candidates early, ahead of the next General Election.

The NEC is currently targeting potential swing seats, including Carlisle and Copeland, with a view to having Parliamentary candidates in post by the end of the year.

The first step is to decide where to field all-women shortlists as it looks to increase its proportion of female MPs.

In Carlisle, members of the local party met recently to vote on whether they would want an women-only shortlist.

After the meeting, Mrs Martlew said they had voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of keeping an open shortlist, and this recommendation was then passed on to the regional and national office.

However the final decision always lay with the NEC.

They have now contacted the local party to confirm that, despite the recommendation, Carlisle would have an all-female list.

Mrs Martlew said: "It was always a consultative exercise. The NEC was always going to make the decision. They are looking at it from a national perspective. I'm just disappointed.

"Having said that, I'm positive we will end up with an excellent candidate. I'm confident that we have a wealth of talent within the local Labour party. We have some fantastic people."

The exact schedule for appointing candidates is expected to be agreed at this week's Labour Party Conference in Brighton.

It is understood that several local members had already expressed an interest in standing in Carlisle, however to date no formal process has been opened.

Ruth Alcroft, who stood against Carlisle's Conservative MP John Stevenson in the last General Election and dented his majority, has told the News & Star she would be keen to stand again.

However Lee Sherriff, who stood in 2015, has today ruled herself out.

She said: "I'm not going to. It's two years on now and its just not the right time for me. I am happy to support whoever is selected."

She did however say she might consider running again in the future.

The all-women shortlist would also rule out some of Carlisle's high-profile male councillors and activists.

Once the shortlist is confirmed, local members will vote on the final candidate, who will be appointed around Christmas time.