IVYBRIDGE residents and visitors got the chance to meet Labour candidate Chaz Singh when he set out his stall in the town last weekend.

Mr Singh is his party's pick for the South West Devon constituency, and will fight current MP, Conservative Gary Streeter and others in the general election in May.

Along with members of the Ivybridge and Plymouth Labour parties and volunteers, Mr Singh was on hand outside the Co-op in Glanvilles Mill on Saturday morning.

He said: 'The aim was to raise awareness, it was about people being able to say, actually, there is an alternative to the current representation.

'The big thing was also to make sure people are aware of individual electoral registration, and we found that some were aware, and some weren't.

'The general mood was good, people were happy to take the information. It was good to be on the streets of Ivybridge. I talked to one 20-year-old girl, and went through what was important to her.

'We talked about tuition fees, and about the cost of living – we know that's an issue that is out there, even in relatively affluent areas.

'Another issue that came up was around the business rates that shops are paying. Labour will look at reducing business rates.

'We've got shops facing their biggest challenge ever, while big companies are avoiding tax. These shops have been on this street for the last hundred years, and we need to make sure that they're there for another 100.

'We need to make sure that what we do now makes life better for the next generation.'

Carol Beeson, secretary of Ivybridge and District Labour Party, said: 'I was encouraged by the interest Chaz created. Some people commented that they were pleased to see Labour in Ivybridge, and some wanted to find out how to join.'