A WOMAN hoping to become Britain's youngest Euro-MP and representative for Cumbria has been told she is not old enough to stand for election.

Lyn Su Floodgate has been selected by Liberal Democrats in the North West as a member of the party's list of candidates standing for the European elections next month. She will be 21 on the day of the election, the minimum age for an MP or MEP.

But now her hopes have been dashed by a government ruling from the Department of Constitutional Affairs: that she cannot be allowed to stand because she was still only 20 on the day that her nomination had to be submitted, Tuesday, May 11.

A bitterly disappointed Ms Floodgate says that she would like to go to court to challenge the decision, but it would be unlikely a court judgement could be reached in time.

She said: "I am told this is a grey area in law. The rules are clear for local elections but not for European ones. It seems strange at a time when there is talk of 16-year-olds getting the vote, and 18-year-olds being allowed to stand for election, that I should have been given the thumbs down when the legal position is far from clear, and I will be 21 by polling day."

Nine seats for the European Parliament will be contested in the North West region, which includes Cumbria. Ms Floodgate, who was placed seventh on the Liberal Democrat list, was realistic but ever hopeful about her prospects of joining sitting Euro-MP Chris Davies.

She said: "We are getting more support from young people than ever before because of our position on Iraq and the principled stand which our MEP has taken on the need for drug law reform and protection of the environment in the region. I was really looking forward to playing my part as part of the team spreading the Liberal Democrat message."