IT could be all change at Wyre Forest District Council next year when all 42 of its seats will be up for grabs.

The move which follows the introduction of electoral boundary changes means Health Concern, which took overall control of the council at this month's elections by gaining five seats, will be forced to defend its tenure.

Alan Pilgrim, principal elections officer for the district, said: "We have been told this will be happening, although we have not yet had it officially confirmed in writing.

"The boundary proposals will be out some time this year. To put them into effect there will need to be elections for the whole council in May 2003."

Prior to that, on June 13, voters go to the polls in the Sutton Park ward for the district seat which fell vacant with the death of Steve Roberts, leader of the district Liberal Democrat group and former mayor of Kidderminster.

Nominations have now closed for candidates and the four who have thrown their hats into the ring are: Claire Cassidy (Liberal Democrat), Jennifer Harrison (Health Concern), Marcus Hart (Conservative) and William Bradley (Labour).

The make-up of the district council at present is: Health Concern 21 seats; Conservative 6; Labour 5; Liberal Focus Save Our Hospital 5; Liberal Democrat 3 and Independent 2.