TORIES in Blackburn want ex-Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt to be their candidate at the next General Election.

The 27-year-old actor, who played Nicky Tilsley in the hit soap until last year, is on a central list of people approved to be Conservative candidates.

Mr Rickitt, who launched a pop career between two spells on the Street, now has to apply to individual associations to become a candidate.

And Ann Law-Riding, chairman of Blackburn's Conservative Association, today urged Mr Rickitt to apply to them.

But Hyndburn MP and former Blackburn councillor Greg Pope said: "The Tory Party has become an endless soap opera with increasingly bizarre storylines, so perhaps it is natural for them to look for a real soap star to try and revive an ailing show."

Conservatives were disappointed at their failure to capitalise on widespread dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq at this year's General Election.

Pundits had predicted a shock defeat for sitting Labour MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw but the Tories actually saw their share of vote, along with the number of votes cast, fall.

Blackburn has one of the highest percentages of young people in the country, making it the sort of area Mr Rickitt would be expected to stand in to gain experience.

Mrs Law-Riding said: "I think there would be a lot of support for Mr Rickitt and I would urge him to write to us.

"One of the things we are very keen to do in Blackburn is attract more younger voters and this may be a way to do it.

"He would have to go through a selection process but I can see advantages to him standing, and not because he is a celebrity."

Corporation Park councillor Paul McGurty said: "I think it is a good idea.

"He would generate publicity we'd struggle to get otherwise and I think he'd attract voters who otherwise wouldn't think of voting Conservative.

"With postal voting becoming more common, people make their minds up sooner and I think he'd help people make up their minds."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "It's fantastic we are coming up with exciting candidates who could then enter Parliament. He would still be quite young by the time of the next election."

Mr Rickitt is mountain climbing in South America and was unavailable for comment.

He first took on the role of Nicky Tilsley in 1997 and soon gained a reputation as a gay icon before quitting to pursue a pop career.