Cllr Hurst currently enjoys one of the largest majorities in the city, as Wavertree is probably the Lib-Dems’ safest ward.

Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley said: “Steve works very hard in his community and is well known.

“Anyone is entitled to challenge anyone, but I am sure Steve will be re-elected for Wavertree next year.”

Ms Pascoe is also putting herself forward for selection for the Greens as a Westminster Parliamentary candidate for one of the Liverpool constituencies.

Cllr John Coyne, leader of the Greens on the city council, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Elizabeth Pascoe to the council.

“It will be a tough challenge to get her elected to Wavertree, but we are going to take a crack at it.”

In April, Cllr Hurst was condemned by a judge for “dirty tactics of the worst kind”, after failing to have his conviction overturned.

In December last year, he was convicted of delivering a leaflet entitled “Walton Scab,” attacking sitting Labour councillor Pauline Walton and her firefighter husband in the May, 2007, council elections.

At the time, he stood down from Liverpool’s ruling executive board.