Dr Marek said his party will give voters 'a real choice'

The Wrexham AM has been joined in his campaign by two supporters: one will stand in an adjoining seat and the other on the north Wales regional list.

All three will represent the John Marek Independent Party.

Dr Marek will be a candidate in Wrexham, journalist Marc Jones in Clwyd South - where Karen Sinclair is the Labour AM - and anti-war activist Colin Jones, from Rhyl, will be on the list.

Marc Jones, 40, a producer and director with BBC Wales, said he believed the public wanted more choice from their election candidates.

"John Marek has attracted massive support across more than just one constituency," he said.

"As a result, we felt we should give the people of Clwyd South and the rest of north Wales a chance to decide who should represent them.

"We are standing on a radical platform that gives voters a real alternative to New Labour.

"We are winning the support of traditional Labour voters as well as others who have always supported John Marek as a good constituency campaigner."

Private funds

Dr Marek decided to stand as an independent candidate after local party members claimed he was "disloyal" towards the Labour-run Wrexham Council.

He subsequently lost his selection battle to stand as the Labour candidate in the constituency.

His successor is his former secretary Lesley Griffiths.

Dr Marek will fund his election campaign privately.

He will focus on fighting for better public services, a properly-funded fire service and a settlement of the firefighters' pay claim.