CANDIDATES are lining up for the county council election contest -- with two by-elections for the district council due to take place at the same time.

The final nominations for Worcestershire County Council elections have now been received for the June 7 ballot.

Former district council leader Trevor Porter (Lab), who sensationally lost his seat in the 1999 local elections, will be attempting a political comeback in the Bromsgrove West ward.

Conservative Alan Atkinson and Liberal Democrat Martin Keane will also be fighting for the seat.

Elizabeth Ann Holmes, who vacated the ward to make way for Mr Porter, will instead contest the Bromsgrove South seat for Labour.

The seat is currently held by the county council's Conservative leader June Longmuir who is standing for re-election.

Liberal Democrat Gordon Selway is also challenging for Bromsgrove South.

Former education committee chairman Russ Clayton (Lab) will fight to keep his Bromsgrove North seat against Conservative district councillor Alan Dent and Liberal Democrat Mary Parr.

Sheila Joy Bushby, who also sits on the district council, will defend the Woodvale ward for the Conservatives against challenges from Gordon Witcomb (Lab) and Geoffrey Ray (Lib Dem).

District council Labour leader and Parliamentary candidate Peter McDonald will also fight to retain his Rubery seat on the county council against Conservative John Ashman and George Mack for the Liberal Democrats.

If elected to Westminster, Cllr McDonald would resign from the two councils and by-elections would be held.

Barnt Green will be defended by Conservative Brian Taylor, against William Newnes (Lab) and Thomas Gray (Lib Dem).

Conservative George Lord will aim to keep his Alvechurch seat as Derek Waters (Lab) and Sandra Docker (Lib Dem) challenge.

Pauline Norton (Con) will defend her Uffdown ward against Labour man Maurice Harford in one of three seats which are a straight contest between Labour and Conservatives.

The Conservative seat of Hagley and Furlongs will be defended by Peter Fallows with Anthony Zalin also standing for Labour.

And in Wythall, Derek Woodward-Sheath will aim to keep the seat for the Conservatives against Labour challenger Judith Marshall.

There will also be by-elections in the district council wards of Catshill and Hagley after two of the incumbent Conservative councillors stepped down.

Helen Whitehouse is giving up her Hagley seat after moving to Stratford-upon-Avon.The ward will be contested by Kenneth Lilley for Labour and Christopher Scurrell for the Conservatives.

Following the resignation of Catshill councillor Len Boden for "personal reasons", William Newnes will stand for the ward for Labour and John Jones will be the Conservative candidate.

l Next week: Parliamentary candidates vie for Bromsgrove constituency.