FOUR candidates will contest the vacant Cinderford West Ward seat on the Forest of Dean District Council.

The election follows the death of Cllr Frank Beard (Labour) and will be held on Thursday, January 12.

Those seeking election are Liberal Democrat Colin Davies, of West View, Cinderford; Conservative Aaron Freeman, of Green Bottom, near Cinderford; the UK Independence Party's Colin Guyton, of High Street, Ruardean, and, for the Labour Party, Roger Sterry, of Denecroft, Cinderford.

On the same day there will also be an election at Lydney for a vacancy on the Town Council.

There are three candidates for the Lydney North Ward. The Conservative Party will be represented by Jan Cordon, of Montpellier Road, Bream, who will be fighting Jenni Dawson-Marsh and Roderick Dawson-Marsh, of Bishops Gate, Lydney.