THE stakes have been laid for next month’s Worcestershire County Council elections – with 273 candidates battling it out for just 57 seats.

The much-anticipated County Hall count will see nine political parties compete for power on Thursday, May 2.

The controlling Conservative administration is taking no chances, fielding candidates in all 57 seats, with the Labour Party pitted as the main rival with 49 candidates.

The UK Independence Party has recruited 42 would-be councillors, nine below the 50 leader Nigel Farage was boasting about having during a visit to Worcester last week, while the Green Party has a record 40.

The Liberal Democrats have managed 34, and the British National Party has 16 names on the ballot sheets.

The contest, the first one the county council has staged since 2009, comes amid a backdrop of a Coalition Government and soaring popularity at the polls for UKIP. The Conservatives control 41 seats at County Hall – a massive majority, with the nearest rivals the Liberal Democrat group on seven, followed by Labour on four.

A new politician will be selected for Croome following the death of Conservative stalwart Bob Bullock.

  • For more coverage see next week’s Malvern Gazette.