A TOTAL of 55 candidates will be after your vote in the May 2 local elections.

Nominations closed on April 5 for the first test of Labour's popularity since last year's General Election.

One-third of the seats on Bury Council are up for grabs. The Conservatives and Labour are putting up candidates in all 16 wards in the borough, and the Liberal Democrats in 14.

There is a strong showing from the Environment and Wildlife team, which is contesting seven seats, with former Labour councillor Glyn Heath in its ranks.

There is also one Independent candidate and one Socialist Alliance representative, both in Prestwich wards.

Among those seeking re-election are Tory group leader David Higgin in Tottington, long-serving Labour member Gordon Sharkey in Unsworth, and Lib Dem man Tim Pickstone in Holyrood.

The list sees several former councillors trying to make a comeback. These include Tory candidates Sam Cohen and Antony Barlow, and Labour's former education chairman Andrea Hughes.

Voters in the eight seats in Bury North will see many familiar faces, with every sitting councillor defending their seat.

However, the opposite is true in Bury South with no fewer than five councillors, all Labour, are standing down.

The candidates:

Radcliffe North

*Denise Bigg (Con), Claydon Drive, Radcliffe.

Sharon Briggs (Lab), Old Oak Close, Bradley Fold.

Radcliffe Central

Alan Bigg (Con), Claydon Drive, Radcliffe.

Bryn Hackley (Lib Dem), Higher Dean Street, Radcliffe.

Andrea Hughes (Lab), East Street, Radcliffe.

Radcliffe South

David Green (Con), Chapeltown Road, Radcliffe.

Bryan Partington (E&W), Hoyle Street, Radcliffe.

*Steve Perkins (Lab), Cromwell Road, Whitefield.

Theodor Tymczyna (Lib Dem), Sandgate Road, Whitefield.

Ramsbottom

Fiona Davison (Lib Dem), Branksome Avenue, Prestwich.

*Dorothy Gunther (Con), Crosfield Avenue, Summerseat.

Vera McClung (Lab), Cann Street, Tottington.

Tottington

James Eagle (Lib Dem), Pennine Close, Bury.

*David Higgin (Con), New Street, Tottington.

Victor McClung (Lab), Cann Street, Tottington.

Elton

*John Costello (Lab), Westgate Avenue, Holcombe Brook.

Kevin Gould (Con), Elton Vale Road, Bury.

Louise Llewellyn (E&W), Cottam Street, Bury.

Robert Sloss (Lib Dem), Newhaven Close, Bury.

Moorside

*Dot Cassidy (Lab), Poplar Avenue, Bury.

Mary Heath (E&W), Walton Drive, Bury.

Winifred Rohmann (Lib Dem), Princess Parade, Bury.

Beverly Sullivan (Con), Middleton Drive, Bury.

Church

Andrew McAnulty (Lab), Simonbury Close, Bury.

*Jack Walton (Con), Sunny Bank Road, Bury.

Michael Wellock (E&W), Newington Drive, Bury.

Redvales

*Farook Chaudhry (Lab), Springwater Avenue, Holcombe Brook.

Glyn Heath (E&W), Walton Drive, Bury.

Azhar Mahmood (Con), Rydal Close, Bury.

Martin Robinson-Dowland (Lib Dem), Tanners Street, Ramsbottom.

East

Peter Ashworth (Con), Heywood Street, Bury.

David Bentley (E&W), Brecon Drive, Bury.

*Mike Connolly (Lab), Topping Fold Road, Bury.

Victor Hagan (Lib Dem), Kingfisher Drive, Bury.

Unsworth

Sam Cohen (Con), Ennerdale Drive, Bury.

Martin Prescott (E&W), Hollins Lane, Bury.

*Gordon Sharkey (Lab), Elms Close, Whitefield.

Geoffrey Young (Lib Dem), Millom Drive, Bury.

Pilkington Park

Mary D'Albert (Lib Dem), Prestwich Park Road South, Prestwich.

Joan Grimshaw (Lab), Heathfield Road, Bury.

Peter Redstone (Con), Kibworth Close, Whitefield.

Besses

Ken Audin (Lab), Harris Drive, Bury.

Ann Garner (Lib Dem), Glebelands Road, Prestwich.

Mark Roberts (Con), Manchester Road, Bury.

St Mary's

Antony Barlow (Con), Parkview Court, Prestwich.

Keith Grime (Lab), Birch Grove, Prestwich.

Michael Halsall (Lib Dem), Dumers Close, Radcliffe.

Gerard Van Hecke (Ind), Willow Road, Prestwich.

Sedgley

Peter Timperley (Lab), Eastleigh Road, Prestwich.

Janet Turner (Lib Dem), Moorside Road, Tottington.

Marilyn Vincent (Con), Bury Old Road, Prestwich.

Holyrood

Jeannette Chrystal (Con), Boundary Drive, Bradley Fold.

Rita McLoughlin (Soc All), Polefield Grange, Prestwich.

*Tim Pickstone (Lib Dem), Heaton Street, Prestwich.

Susan Worsley (Lab), Chiswick Drive, Radcliffe.

(*denotes councillor seeking re-election)