VOTERS in North Dorset will be heading to the polls on Thursday May 5 to return over 400 candidates to local councils.

Some 84 candidates will contest 28 seats on North Dorset District Council, with 32 nominees from the Conservative party, and 29 from the Liberal Democrat party.

The Labour party has fielded 11 candidates, three are from UKIP, two from the Green party, and eight are standing as independent councillors.

Hundreds of parish council seats are also up for grabs in the district, with existing councillors making up all but two of the 19 nominees for the 16 seats on Blandford Town Council.

In Sturminster Newton, 23 nominations have been made for 11 council seats, with 12 nominations from local party, the Safe Group.

The count for the district council election will be held at the Blandford Leisure Centre and start at 10pm on Thursday May 5, with the results expected in the early hours of the following morning.

Ballots for the referendum on the Alternative Vote electoral system and parish council elections will be counted at Blandford Corn Exchange from 4pm on Friday May 6, with results announced on Monday May 9.

Polls will open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday May 5.

See all the candidates for North Dorset.