THEY say that a week is a long time in politics: and there are still another four to go before election day on June 10!

No fewer than 137 candidates are seeking your vote in the local elections, representing the "big three" parties plus hopefuls from the British National Party and Bury Market campaigners.

Nominations closed on Tuesday for the poll which for the first time will be conducted entirely by postal voting.

Every seat on Bury Council is up for grabs in the first all-out elections since the metropolitan borough was formed 30 years ago. Voters, therefore, will be allowed three choices on their ballot paper.

Labour and the Conservatives are putting up a full list in every part of the borough, while the Liberal Democrats offer voters at least one candidate in each ward.

As forecast in the Bury Times, the BNP is putting up three candidates (in Tottington, Church and Radcliffe East) while seven Bury Market traders are standing as Independents in protest at plans to move the market as part of a £150 million revamp of Bury town centre.

A boundary shake-up designed to make the wards more equal has resulted in the creation of an extra ward (North Manor, which includes Greenmount, Nangreaves and Hawkshaw) taking the total to 17.

Only two councillors are not defending their seats: Tottington's Bill Johnson, and Radcliffe Labour member Andrea Hughes.

Pre-ballot letters are currently being sent to residents to explain how the new voting arrangements will work.

Along with the voting paper, there will be declaration form to complete, which has to be signed by a witness to confirm each voter's identity.

People will have two weeks to make up their minds, and either post back the forms or drop them off at Bury Town Hall. There is a telephone hotline to help anyone with queries: 253 5113, or 5114, 7314, 7749.