ALTHOUGH May 6 will be dominated by the General Election, the day is not just about national politics.

South Lakeland is one of the districts where local council seats are also being contested.

From its formation in 1974 until the 2006 elections, no one political party had been in overall control of the council.

However, in 2006 the Liberal Democrats gained the majority of seats.

The political balance is currently Lib Dem 36, Conservative 14 and Labour 1.

Candidates contesting 18 wards are:

AMBLESIDE & GRASMERE

Alan Clarke (CON)
Kathy Cross (LAB)
David Vatcher (LIB DEM).

KENDAL CASTLE

James Alexander (CON)
Sonia Lawson (LIB DEM).

KENDAL FAR CROSS

Colin Bell (CON)
Clive Graham (LIB DEM)
Kieran Roberts (LAB).

KENDAL FELL

Eric Hookway (CON)
Brendan Jameson (LIB DEM)
Marilyn Molloy (LAB).

KENDAL HERON HILL

David Perry (CON)
Andy Shine (LIB DEM).

KENDAL HIGHGATE

Philip Dixon (LIB DEM)
Deborah Huck (CON)
Allan Ring (LAB).

KENDAL KIRKLAND

Julie Dawson (LIB DEM)
Emma Hine (CON)
Tony Rothwell (LAB).

KENDAL MINTSFEET

David Evans (LIB DEM)
Lyndsay Slater (CON).

KENDAL NETHER

Stephen Chambers (CON)
Clare Feeney-Johnson (LIB DEM)
Charles Haigh (LAB).

KENDAL OXENHOLME & NATLAND

Alan Bobbett (CON)
Rae Cross (LAB)
Brenda Gray (LIB DEM).

KENDAL PARKS

Jonathan Brook (LIB DEM)
Dan Ross (CON)
Lois Sparling (LAB).

KENDAL ROMNEY

Pam Flitcroft (CON)
Penelope Henderson (LAB)
Graham Vincent (LIB DEM).

KENDAL STONECROSS

Nigel Byrom (CON)
Sylvia Emmott (LIB DEM)
Geoffrey Lawlan (LAB).

KENDAL STRICKLAND

John Batteson (LAB)
Stephen Coleman (LIB DEM)
Derrick Wade (CON).

KENDAL UNDERLEY

Rob Boden (LIB DEM)
Paul Braithwaite (LAB)
Karen Dawson (CON).

MID FURNESS

Caroline Airey (CON)
Jane Carson (LIB DEM)
Jo-Anna Duncalf (GREEN).

SEDBERGH & KIRKBY LONSDALE

Anne Fenwick (CON)
Derek Longmire (LAB)
Ian McPherson (LIB DEM).

STAVELEY-IN-CARTMEL

Sue Sanderson (LIB DEM)
Ted Walsh (CON).