OVER the coming months we will be speaking to the candidates for Warrington's two seats at the General Election - this week, the Green Party's Warrington North candidate, Sarah Hayes.

Having announced her intentions to stand for the Green Party in September, the candidate has not looked back after vowing to give residents a choice to back 'the only party that is different'.

Mrs Hayes, from Altrincham, turned to the party following its opening up to social justice issues but is now prized with the challenge of informing residents of how she can make change.

Now working as a cryptic crossword setter, the 57-year-old is a former lecturer of Russian studies at Manchester University - a career which came to an end following her frustration with the commercialisation of universities.

"I did lecturing from 1979 but in 1997 I just got fed up with it all due to the increase in commercialisation and it has only continued but it also getting worse," she said.

Despite the change in career, Mrs Hayes insists her self-employed role will have little effect on her bid to claim the seat, along with her distance from the town.

"I am self-employed so can do as little or as much as I want - for the campaign I will be dropping everything and concentrating completely on the campaign," she said.

"Also, the distance is not a factor. I don't drive, have never driven and don't have a car - I don't like cars and am very much in favour of public transport.

"But I could also run the distance into Warrington when coming here, it is 17 miles."

The chance of the Greens making an impact has been somewhat belittled by rival parties but Mrs Hayes has backed Warrington South candidate, Steph Davies, in claiming writing off the party could prove to be a damning mistake.

"There is a genuine belief that we can claim seats - we are the only party that is different and the other parties, in my opinion, are all shades of the Conservatives," she said.

"The Greens are different, we don't believe in austerity and cuts and I expect the growth of the party to continue.

"It is about getting the message across that the Greens are for ordinary people and not for the rich at the top.

"Everything in the budget was appealing to people with money and it had nothing in for people on zero-hour contracts or those on the minimum wage."

With many in the town still entirely unsure of who to vote for, targetting the younger vote is set to be a crucial part of Mrs Hayes' plans.

"We can appeal with young people and there is definitely an opportunity there," she said.

"I hope everyone who can be registered is registered. I think a lot of young people will get involved because of the housing situation.

"I think young voters will be pro-green and online is definitely a way of reaching youngsters."

The candidate realises the task on her hands but if elected as MP for the Labour-dominated constituency, Mrs Hayes promises to deliver.

"The issues of fracking and HS2 are big Green things and we are against both," she added.

"We need to convince people the present Labour party is still very centrist or even right wing, the present Labour party wont stop all cuts going on.

"We will talk straight to people and tell the truth and tell them what the Greens will do that nobody else will do.

"We are different and on the side of ordinary people, none of the others are."