Liberal Democrat MP Paul Tyler will not contest the North Cornwall seat at the next general election.

Mr Tyler, who is 61, has been in the job for 10 years and holds his party's top job in the Commons, Shadow Leader of the House.

He said it was was time for somebody new to take over - by making the announcement now the local party could choose a new candidate by the summer.

I am especially concerned to make sure that we have plenty of time to work together so that our service to the people of North Cornwall continues without interruption Paul Tyler Lib Dem MP

"The next election is expected to take place in 2005 or 2006, when I will be approaching 65, and if that parliament runs its full course I will be heading for 70," said Mr Tyler.

"In a few months time all the paid-up Liberal Democrat members in the constituency will choose my successor.

"Although he or she will probably come from the area, I am especially concerned to make sure that we have plenty of time to work together so that our service to the people of north Cornwall continues without interruption."

He was first elected as Liberal MP for Bodmin for a brief few months in 1974, but had to wait 18 years before he won the safer seat of North Cornwall in the general election of 1992.

He soon secured the post of Lib Dem rural affairs spokesman, which guaranteed him a high profile with the onset of the farming disasters of BSE and foot-and-mouth.

But he also took on long-term investigations into the aftermath of the Camelford water poisoning incident and the effects of organo-phosphates, particularly in sheep dip.

Undisputed stature

His later roles in the Commons as Lib Dem Chief Whip and then as shadow to the Leader of the House have made him one of the most well-known of Westminster faces.

Paul Tyler first became an MP in 1974

He has pursued numerous campaigns on water bills, post offices, transport and crime, especially the tragedy of the Caroline Dickinson murder case.

With an undisputed stature and respect within the Liberal Democrats, it was natural that his name was in the forefront of the possible leadership candidates when Paddy Ashdown stood down in 1999.

In the end he decided he did not have the right temperament to be a party leader.

However, he has commanded high respect on the Commons benches and played a big part in the moves to modernise Parliament.