LOCAL MP Jeremy Browne has announced he will stand down as the Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane at the next General Election.

Liberal Democrat Mr Browne made the announcement on his Twitter account on Wednesday saying it was "time to do something different".

He has served the constituency, which includes Wiveliscombe, Milverton, Lydeard St Lawrence and West Bagborough, since 2005 and increased his majority to 3,993 in 2010.

Under the coalition Government, he was appointed as a Minister for State in the Foreign Office and the Home Office until he lost his post in a reshuffle last year.

Mr Browne said: "By 2015 I will have been the Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane for ten years.

"That is generally long enough to do the same job.

"It is not my ambition to remain in Parliament until I retire.

"There is a world beyond politics full of opportunities and it will be exciting to explore it."

Mr Browne said he would not be joining any other political party and said felt his "race was run" what it came to national politics.

"I have been very committed to the role and I have done it to the best of my ability.

"It is time to do something different," Mr Browne said.

Taunton Deane Liberal Democrats said they were saddened by Mr Browne's decision but were hoping to have a replacement candidate in place by Christmas.

Currently, Taunton Deane has four named candidates for the 2015 General Election - Rebecca Pow for the Conservatives, Laura Bailhache for UKIP, Neil Guild for Labour and Clive Martin for the Greens.