FIVE candidates will fight for a seat on Burnley Council in the by-election next month.

The seat in Lanehead ward became vacant earlier this month when BNP councillor Luke Smith resigned.

Smith, who was initially expelled from the party after fighting at its annual Red White and Blue Festival in Sawley, but was then told he would have to face a disciplinary hearing, said he decided to quit politics because of the way he had been treated by the British National Party leadership.

Despite some uncertainty the BNP has decided to field a candidate to try and keep the seat for the party.

John Cave, of Hudson Street, said he has only recently joined the party but has been associated with it for a while.

The 54-year-old, who was born in Padiham, said: "I am optimistic about my chances. We are going to put our best efforts into winning the seat."

He will be challenged by candidates from the three main parties -- Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat -- as well as an independent candidate.

Paul Coates, 51, who owns a small joinery business, has been a member of the Conservative Party for many years and missed out on a council seat in the local government elections earlier this year.

He said: "It is time for a change in Burnley. We have been Labour controlled for so long, it is time for us to have a go."

There are two newcomers to local politics on the list of candidates as Julie Cooper, Labour, and Ann Royle, Independent, will both be standing in an election for the first time.

Mrs Cooper, 43, who runs Coopers Chemist, in Burnley, with her husband Brian, has been a member of the Labour Party for more than 20 years and said that now her two teenage children are older she has the time to get more involved.

She said: "This is something I have always wanted to do, I understand that it is a great deal of hard work but I know that if I am elected I will do a good job."

Mrs Royle, a 51-year-old mother of four grown-up children, is already active in the community as one of the founder members of the Central Briercliffe Road Action Group.

She said: "I think a lot of people have lost faith with the Labour Party and their protest vote was for the BNP, but I think that has faded too and as an Independent I am providing an alternative."

Finally, Martin Smith, who has stood for election in the ward three times before, will be trying to win the seat for the Liberal Democrats.

The 45-year-old project manager, who is married with two children, said: "It would be disastrous if the BNP got in again. If people want to make a protest vote against Labour, they should be voting Liberal Democrat."

Polling day is Thursday, October 16.