WYRE Forest District Council could be a family affair after next month's election as 10 husband and wife teams line up to contest seats.

A clean sweep for all the spouses could see the number of council couples rise from two to 10, accounting for nearly half of the 42 seats.

Serving Health Concern councillor Maureen Aston said she would welcome the chance to work alongside husband John: "It would be unique, it is quite unusual for so many spouses to take an interest but there are already couples on the council and they have been successful so why not others?"

Michael Salter, who is looking to join the council alongside Tory wife June, said: "If we do have disagreements we always discuss it and if we think one is wrong we accept that. There is no need for fighting and arguing."

Existing couples on the council are Mike and Fran Oborski (Liberal Party) and Peter and Helen Dyke (Liberal Democrat).

Seeking to become council couples are Douglas and Susan Godwin (Conservative), Frank and Mavis Baillie (Health Concern), Leroy and Flora Wright (Labour), Ken and Pauline Stokes (Health Concern) and James and Lesley Brown (Labour).