THE Conservative candidate for Midlothian North and Musselburgh is in hospital after suffering a fall while out walking with his family.

Jeremy Balfour, leader of the Conservative group at City of Edinburgh Council, sustained a head injury in the accident last week.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "As part of the treatment, an underlying heart condition was discovered which probably caused the fall.

"He will continue to be monitored in hospital, but his family are optimistic of him making a full recovery."

It is unlikely that Mr Balfour will be able to attend a women's hustings at The Brunton this weekend, but the party spokesman said he would still be standing as the Conservative candidate for the Midlothian North and Musselburgh constituency at the Holyrood elections on May 5.

Mr Balfour, member for the Corstorphine/Murrayfield Ward, is also Convener of the Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee at Edinburgh City Council.

Educated at the Edinburgh Academy, he went on to become a solicitor before doing a Theology Degree in London. He returned to Edinburgh in 1999 and worked for a charity lobbying the Scottish Parliament. Mr Balfour then became an assistant minister in a Baptist Church in the city.

In 2005 he was elected a councillor for the City Council and is also involved in a number of charities working in Edinburgh.