Angharad Davies wants to stand for Labour

Angharad Davies, who chaired Mr Davies's successful campaign to become Welsh party leader five years ago, told BBC Wales that she had put her name forward for the Labour nomination.

Ms Davies, 31, is currently public affairs adviser to the Royal College of Nursing in Wales.

She previously fought Montgomeryshire in the 1997 general election, and was on the Labour shortlist for the assembly election in both Caerphilly and Cynon Valley in 1999.

Following Ms Davies' announcement, another candidate confirmed she was seeking the Labour nomination for Caerphilly.

She is Barbara Jones, 53, a local party member and social worker.

She is fund-raising officer for the constituency Labour party's women's forum.

She admitted that she had little experience of standing for election, but said she was very committed to Caerphilly and would be raising local and women's issues.

Ms Jones has been a party member for nearly 30 years. She lives in Maesycwmmer, and is a widow with two children and three grandchildren.

Ron Davies has announced he is standing down

Their announcements are certain to be the first of several in the next day or so by Labour party members interested in standing.

They are hoping to take the place of the former Welsh Secretary, who stood down as the candidate on Sunday after allegations about his private life in the Sun newspaper.

Others likely to throw their hats in the ring are Jeff Cuthbert, the Caerphilly party chairman, and Martin Mansfield, a former secretary of the local party.

Mr Cuthbert works for the Welsh exams board the WJEC and Mr Mansfield is an official with the trade union Amicus/MSF.

Senior Labour figures say they believe the most likely winner will be somebody from the constituency party or with good local knowledge.

Other party candidates Laura Jones - Conservative Rob Roffe - Liberal Democrat Lindsay Whittle - Plaid Cymru Avril Dafydd Lewis - Independent

It has also emerged that the candidate is likely to be chosen next Tuesday. Officials of the local party and the Wales Labour party will meet at the weekend to thrash out the details and draw up a shortlist.

Time is short because nominations for the Assembly elections on 1 May must be made by 1 April.

The 600 Caerphilly party members will be invited to a selection meeting - probably on Tuesday - to pick their candidate.

Possible candidates

It will be one-member-one-vote, with only those present on the night able to take part.

A number of other possible candidates linked with the nomination have been ruled out.

Delyth Evans, the Mid and West Wales AM announced a year ago that she would be leaving the assembly to spend more time with her family, and she has maintained she would not stand in Caerphilly.

Also out of the picture is Maria Battle, the deputy children's commissioner for Wales, who has fought previous elections for Labour.

Another who says he will not put his name forward is Vaughan Gething, a former president of the National Union of Students in Wales.

He was on Labour's top-up list in Mid and West Wales at the first Assembly election, and is now close to finishing his training as a solicitor.