LABOUR hopes to strengthen its 24-strong majority on Blackburn Council at the May 2 district elections, fielding candidates in all 21 seats being contested.

Conservatives are not contesting eight seats regarded as traditional Labour strongholds, leaving voters with the choice between Labour or Liberal Democrat in five wards.

Liberal Democrats have hopefuls for all but one seat, the Green party is fielding three candidates and there are two Independent Labour contestants.

Council leader Coun Malcolm Doherty is standing for re-election in the Mill Hill seat he has held for the past 15 years.

Conservative leader Coun Don Heatlie-Jackson faces a challenge in his Darwen Earcroft ward, where electors have returned Labour candidates for the last two years.

Three of his Tory colleagues will battle to hold on to seats in wards where Labour candidates have been returned over the last two years.

Conservative Arthur Hutchinson, Brownhill councillor Rene Greaves and Marsh House councillor Fred Slater all hope to change the trend towards Labour.

Liberal Democrat leader Coun Paul Browne is contesting Darwen Sudell ward where he last year lost to Labour's Derek Brindle.

The following month he regained a Sudell seat in a by-election after the resignation of Liberal Democrat John Morgan.

Liberal Democrat Coun Karimeh Foster hopes to hold her Whitehall seat.

The loss of two Liberal Democrats in this election would spell disaster for the group which has three councillors.

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