LOCAL politicians have been enjoying the race to become leader of the Conservative Party and the UK's next Prime Minister.

The contest is in full swing and local Conservative Party politicians and party workers have been busy posting pictures of themselves with their favourite candidate and letting us know who they are backing.

On Saturday the two candidates who managed to convince their fellow Tory MPs to back them in the leadership race, Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson, visited Manchester.

Theresa May's successor will be announced on Tuesday July 23 after what will have been a six week contest.

The pair have been criss-crossing the UK in a bid to secure the backing of 160,000 party members as they set out their stall during a series of local hustings.

Former Vale of Clwyd MP James Davies posted a picture of himself together with Denbighshire County Councillor for Prestatyn East Anton Sampson and local party workers with Boris Johnson.

While Aberconwy AM Janet Finch Saunders and Clwyd West MP David Jones also posed for a photo with Boris Johnson.

Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar told us, even at the start of the contest, that he was pledging his support for Boris Johnson in the Conservative Party leadership contest.

The Welsh Conservative Chief Whip in the National Assembly for Wales believes front runner Boris would be an “excellent” Prime Minister and has all the qualities needed to deliver Brexit.

He said: "Boris is a good friend of Wales and a formidable force in British politics. Not only is he a hugely popular figure among Conservative grassroots, but he’s an ardent campaigner with a track record that demonstrates his ability to win elections and gain support from people in all walks of life.

“We need a Prime Minister who respects the outcome of the EU referendum in 2016 and is absolutely committed and capable of delivering Brexit. I am confident that Boris is the right person for the job.”

Boris Johnson, paid a visit to Clwyd West and attended the Welsh Conservatives Conference in Llangollen, has received the backing of a number of Welsh Conservative MPs and AMs, including Clwyd West MP David Jones and former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies AM.