OUR election round-up kicks off with Ribble Valley ... where Tory Nigel Evans is defending the seat against a strong challenge from Liberal Democrat Michael Carr and Labour's Marcus Johnstone. Boundary changes have put large chunks of Fulwood into this rural constituency. Our no-nonsense election coverage spares you all the political hype and propaganda - you'll be getting enough of that through your letterbox! Instead, we give you the FACTS about the main party candidates that will help you place your cross.

In the next couple of weeks we'll be covering the Preston and South Ribble election battlegrounds.

Full Name: Nigel Martin Evans.

D.o.B.:10/11/1957.

Home: Longridge.

Marital Status: Single.

Education: University College, Swansea (BA Hons Politics).

Career: Chairman of the All Party Music Group; Secretary to the North West Members Group; the All Party Tourism Group; the Manufacturing Industry Parliamentary Group; the All Party Drug Misuse Group. Now Parliamentary aide to William Hague MP.

Political Background: Contested Swansea in 1987 general election; Pontypridd 1989 and Ribble Valley 1991 by-elections. Member of West Glamorgan County Council 1985-91; president of Swansea West Conservative Association and chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary Candidates Policy Group, 1990.

Film: Dead Poets Society.

Place: Ribble Valley.

Music: Everything. Grapples with rave.

Food: Mashed potato.

Drink: Bitter.

Sport: Hockey, football, rugby.

Hobbies: New gadgets and technology.

Full Name: Marcus Johnstone.

D.o.B.: 26/4/59.

Birthplace: Liverpool.

Home: Burnley.

Marital Status: Lives with girlfriend.

Education: School in Burnley and a graduate of Bristol University.

Career: Journalist with local newspapers in Bristol, the Home Counties and Burnley. Now a college lecturer in Salford.

Political Background: Member of the Labour party for 20 years. President of Bristol University Students Labour Club. Elected to Burnley Council in 1986, winning Trinity ward. Chair of the council's Economic Development committee since 1993. Chair of Burnley Labour Party. Ribble Valley's candidate for two years.

Favourite film: The Godfather.

Place: Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley.

Music: Everything from Tchaikovsky to Oasis.

Food: Chinese.

Drink: Bitter.

Sport: Football.

Hobbies: Politics and walking.

Full Name: Michael Carr

D.o.B.: 31/1/46

Birthplace: Preston

Home: Weir, near Bacup

Marital Status: Separated

Education: Schools in Preston and Blackpool before training as a teacher at MacMillan College in Bradford and Bradford and Ilkley Community College.

Career: Teaches children with emotional and behavioural difficulties in East Lancashire.

Political Background: Member of the Conservative party but left in 1980. Joined the SDP in 1981 and stood in the General Election in 1983 and 1987 in the Ribble Valley for the Alliance. Won 1991 by-election and became the Ribble Valley's first Liberal Democrat MP before losing the seat the following year.

Favourite film: American Werewolf in London

Place: Hodder Valley

Music: Alternative/Rock

Food: Chicken chausseur or curry

Drink: Bitter or red wine

Sport: Football - an avid PNE fan

Hobbies: Hill walking, cooking and gardening

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.