THOUSANDS are expected to head to the polling stations to elect their district and parish representatives on May 3. In the Lancaster City area, eight parish councils are being contested this year, including Carnforth Town Council and the parishes of Caton with Littledale, Ireby and Silverdale.

At City Council level, Carnforth's mayor Bob Roe (Ind) has set his sights on a city council seat, although both Carnforth's current councillors (Labour representatives Paul Gardner and Judith Jones) are up for re-election.

In addition, Coun Tony Johnson (Cons) has been nominated for the Carnforth ward after stepping down from his seat in Bolton-le-Sands. Also contesting the Carnforth seat is Gregg Beaman (UK Independence Party).David Barker (Ind) was nominated for the ward but has since withdrawn as a candidate.

Kellet representative, and leader of LCC's Conservatives, Coun Roger Mace is hoping to be re-elected in his ward. His seat is being contested by two other candidates - Kendal man Ralph Martyn, who is standing for the Green Party and Miriam Blakely (Lab).

After Planning Policy and Rural Affairs portfolio holder Coun Pat Quinton (Lib Dem) decided to step down after a 20 year run, eight candidates are chasing the two Lower Lune Valley seats, including current Lib Dem and deputy mayor Joyce Pritchard.

In the Upper Lune Valley ward, meanwhile, Kirkby Lonsdale man James Airey (Con) is stepping down after ten years to run for a seat in the Crooklands division of South Lakeland District Council.

Four nominees face a battle for the Overton ward and Silverdale is boasting an all-female round of candidates all after the one available seat.

And in Warton Coun Jean Dent (Ind) is hoping for a second term, but faces competition from the Tories in the form of Andrea Johnson.

This is a corrected version of a story with the same headline which appeared in The Westmorland Gazette on April 20.