EVERY vote will count in Wyre Forest in what promises to be the hottest General Election campaign in years.

The district looks set to buck national voter apathy as it gears up for a thrilling three-horse race.

Sitting Labour MP David Lock, Tory hopeful Mark Simpson and Health Concern candidate Dr Richard Taylor all fancy their chances of scoring a victory in the June 7 vote.

Mr Lock, who has a majority of 6,946, starts his campaign with Labour miles ahead in all national polls.

He became the first Wyre Forest Labour MP for 47 years when he overturned Anthony Coombs' 10,000 majority at the last election.

However, Conservative candidate Mr Simpson is buoyed by the fact Wyre Forest is a traditional Tory seat which fell to Labour as part of the nationwide swing in 1997.

The PR account manager is certain the current political climate will add up to a Tory victory.

The national spotlight will undoubtedly fall on Dr Richard Taylor who could become the first independent MP elected on a local issue for at least 50 years.

The former Kidderminster Hospital consultant has led the campaign to save and now restore services lost at his former workplace.

His cause has been helped by Liberal candidate Fran Oborski, whose party polled 1,670 votes in the last election.

She has stood down to campaign "flat out" in support of Dr Taylor.

The Liberal Democrats, who polled 4,377 in 1997, have not confirmed if they are putting up a candidate. However, they are widely expected to withdraw.

The closing date for nominations is May 22.