The new cross-border Waveney Valley seat could turn out to be one of the most crucial contests in the next general election - but many voters seem to remain confused about where it is.

It has very little to do with the existing Waveney seat which is held by Conservative Peter Aldous and is basically Lowestoft, Beccles and Bungay and a few Suffolk villages next to the Norfolk border.

At the next election the current Waveney seat loses Bungay and is renamed Lowestoft.

Waveney Valley is a new seat that straddles the Suffolk/Norfolk border. Nearly 60% of its voters are in Suffolk, 40% are in Norfolk. In area terms, two thirds of it is in Suffolk and a third in Norfolk.

However, the two largest towns in the constituency - Diss and Harleston - are in south Norfolk.

It extends from Stowupland to Bungay and as far into Norfolk as Dickleburgh.

Waveney Valley is already an established identity in tourism and business marketing but it isn't yet established as a political identity.

That needs to change because at the next general election it could be a seat that attracts quite a bit of national attention.

That's because it is one of four seats in England being targeted by the Green Party - their candidate is co-leader Adrian Ramsay who led the party on Norwich City council.

They are hoping to build on their success in May's local election when they took control of Mid Suffolk - the only district council in England that they control in their own right.

They also took seats in Bungay and Halesworth - so they see their position in Suffolk as a springboard for success.

The Conservatives chose Richard Rout, the deputy leader of Suffolk County Council, to be their standard-bearer.

On paper this looks like a safe Conservative seat looking at the 2019 election - with Labour comfortably in second place.

But Labour is concentrating its efforts elsewhere and sees Waveney Valley as a "low priority" seat - whereas the Green Party will be bringing in supporters from across the area.

Mr Ramsay said he had been impressed by the number of people switching to his party - across the constituency.

He said: "There is a feeling that people want a change and when they see what Green Party councillors are able to do they will then come and support us more.

"We have done well in Suffolk - but now the message is getting across in south Norfolk too. Voters in Diss and Harleston can see what has happened over the river.

"And they're just as concerned about the state of the river as those on the other side!"

Mr Rout was selected by the Conservatives on Saturday evening and is already preparing his campaign.

He said: “It’s an honour to have been selected as the candidate for the new Waveney Valley constituency. It's an area that I’ve known and loved all my life. 

“I will focus on connectivity - both digital and physical, so improving broadband, exploring innovative solutions like Starlink, and enhancing public transport links is important.

"Access to services like banking and dentistry is equally essential for our rural communities and I’m determined to support local high streets, which are so vital to our market towns. 

“Waveney Valley is a unique part of East Anglia. We need to support key sectors, like agribusiness and tourism, and ensure the countryside is protected and enhanced for generations to come.”

A Labour candidate is not expected to be selected until shortly before the general election - and the same is true for the Liberal Democrats.

However, in some areas of the country Greens and Liberal Democrats have stood aside to give the other party a clear run - and that has not been ruled out in this case.