It would be disgraceful if the Copeland MP by-election is delayed until early summer, says the borough's mayor.

There is no acceptable reason for the vote for Jamie Reed's successor to be put back to May, says Mike Starkie.

"There are many pressing issues in Copeland which we have a great opportunity to highlight during this election with the whole country focused in on it.

"The priorities we have with WCH [West Cumberland Hospital], nuclear, infrastructure and Whitehaven School to name just a few mean that it will be disgraceful if we are not represented in Parliament until May," said he on his official Facebook page.

Labour's Mr Reed is standing down at the end of this month to take a job at the Sellafield nuclear site.

Pundits say the poll for his replacement could be held on May 4, linking in with the county council elections. As the party that currently holds the seat, Labour has to formally move the by-election writ to select his replacement and can dictate the date constituents will go to the polls.

Andrew Gwynne, the driving force behind Labour’s by-election campaign, has suggested that May 4 could be its preferred polling date.

Mr Gwynne is reported as saying: “We’re planning for that as it’s better to plan for a long campaign and be pleasantly surprised than plan for a short campaign and then realise you’ve got to stretch your resources out for several months."

However Mr Starkie said he would be extremely disappointed if the by-election is pushed into May.

"Irrespective of whatever anyone's political persuasion is in Copeland, this borough and its constituents need to be fully represented in the House of Commons and this by-election should take place no later the March 9.

"There is no acceptable reason for it to be held any later," he said.

Labour are defending a majority of 2,564 in Copeland from 2015, making it the tightest by-election for the party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader.

The party has selected its all-female shortlist. Locals Barbara Cannon, Gillian Troughton and Rachel Holliday will fight it out for the nomination.

The Liberal Democrats have announced Cockermouth councillor and health campaigner Rebecca Hanson will be their candidate.

The Conservative Party and Ukip have yet to select their candidates. It is not known if any independents will contest the seat.