THE British National Party is to field 10 candidates in the local elections where 18 seats are up for grabs.

Conservative, Labour and the Liberal Democrat candidates will contest all the posts up for re-election. Nominations closed at noon last Thursday and will be held on the same day as the General Election — Thursday May 6.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on that date, but the count for Bury Council will not take place until 1pm on the following day.

Conservatives currently rule the council with 26 seats, with Labour 16 and Liberal Democrats nine.

Only one-third of the council is up for election with Conservatives holding 10 of the seats, Labour five and Lib Dem three.

The make-up of the council is delicately balanced as one Conservative loss would result in a hung council, where there would be no party with an overall majority.Four Green candidates will stand, along with three Independents, and one English Democrat.

Due to the standing down of Cllr Peter Redstone, there will be two seats in Pilkington Park up for election. Council leader Bob Bibby will be seeking to retain his seat in Church ward, while Bury’s Liberal Democrat leader Tim Pickstone is hoping to be voted back in for the Holyrood ward.

Residents have until 5pm on Tuesday to make sure they are on the Electoral Register, and the same deadline is in place for arrangements to be made for a postal vote.

The Elections Office can be contacted on 0161 253 5113.