VOTERS will have a choice of three candidates at next month's Moorside by-election.

Representatives from the three main parties - Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats - will contest the seat on March 6.

The election has been been called following the death last month of Labour councillor Sean Cassidy.

Defending the seat for Labour is civil servant Paul Dixon (36) of Cumberland Close, Bury.

He is a member of Unsworth branch, and has belonged to the party for ten years.

A single man, he is secretary to the Labour group on Bury Council and of the Bury district party. A governor at Old Hall County Primary School, he previously stood for election last year in Tottington.

Former councillor Val McGrory is the Tory contestant.

A JP, she represented Church ward for five years until 1995, and is a qualified nurse and school governor.

Married and with one daughter, she lives in Ainsworth Road, Bury.

Mrs McGrory is chairman of Bury Racial Equality Council and of Bury North Police and Community Consultative Group, and a member of Bury and District Crime Prevention Panel.

Fighting the seat for the Liberal Democrats is veteran campaigner Winifred Rohmann (68).

She has two grown-up children and lives in Princess Parade, Bury.

A retired deputy head of a special school, she is secretary of the local history society.

Bury born and bred, she is a member of the town centre environmental forum and works to raise funds for the Community Education Service.

A published author, she is currently researching the Freetown area of Bury for her next book.

Residents who wish a postal or proxy vote should contact the council's electoral office on (0161) 253 5113 before next Monday.

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