A FORMER Wire FM star is standing for the Tories in the borough council election.

Business entrepreneur Pete Pinnington, a proud patron of Warrington Disability Partnership and the Shannon Bradshaw Trust, will battle for a seat in Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall on May 6.

Pete raised thousands of pounds during lockdown after taking his Bingo Bedlam show online to raise money for Warrington Disability Partnership, the Shannon Bradshaw Trust and Warrington Youth Club.

He said: “Over the years I have got to know both the staff and councillors at Warrington Borough Council and regard them as friends. I’ve offered air time and my time to the various different events in the town.

“I have been a Labour voter all of my life but I felt that Labour lost touch with normal people like myself. It’s time for change at the council and rather than sit there and think about change, I’d like to be a part of it.

“Pre-pandemic I wanted to set-up a family festival and I got no support from the council.

“This really disappointed me. Since Andy Carter was elected as the MP he has been very supportive of me and Andy said I’d make a great councillor, the rest is history.

“There’s a lot of work to do but I am up for the challenge. People have already started to contact me for help and ask my advice on different issues.”

Warrington South Conservative MP Andy Carter has welcomed the announcement.

He said: “When I was the managing director of Smooth Radio, Pete and I were rivals. Even in those days I thought that Pete was a huge asset to Warrington.

“I hoped that our paths would cross one day. I couldn’t have guessed it would have been in the world of politics though.

“Pete knows the town so well, he knows lots of people and as a Conservative he’ll be fighting for more support for small businesses and families who need help to get back on their feet after the lockdown is lifted.”

Pete was part of the original launch line-up at Wire FM.

He is the managing director and creative director of Pete Pinnington Productions.