EVERYTHING is up for grabs in Blackburn with Darwen Council's election on May 3 as it is fought on new boundaries and several senior politicians retire.

With just 17 three-member wards instead of 23 represented by 64 councillors ,party strategists have had to rethink tactics to take account of the new map.

Heading retirements is husband-and-wife team of Liberal Democrat leader David Foster and Karimeh, both former borough Mayors with more than 25 years each representing Whitehall in Darwen.

They join former Tory council leader Mike Lee, Labour executive member for health Mustafa Ali Desai, former Mayor of Blackburn and Mayor of Darwen Town Councils Eileen Entwistle and 2013/14's borough Mayor Salim Mulla in standing down next month.

David Foster said: "We want to spend more time with our grandchildren and we will miss the people in the council. We won't miss the interminable, unproductive meetings."

It is also an election of political resurrections, most notably former Suddell councillor Paul Browne who stood down from the borough council in 2015 and is now one of just five Liberal Democrat standing joining former ward colleague Roy Davies in fighting the new Darwen East ward.

Shadsworth and Whitebirk's veteran Tony Humphrys was due to stand down but after Stephen Johnson pulled out he has joined Labour's effort to oust the Conservative group leader John Slater, his mother Jacquie and their Fernhurst ward colleague Denise Gee in the new Blackburn South and Lower Darwen ward.

Current borough Mayor Colin Rigby and his wife Jean also considered standing down for family reasons but decided to fight the new West Pennine electoral division with Julie Slater for the Tories opposed by three Labour candidates and veteran LibDem John East.

There are 112 candidates with Labour fighting for all 51 seats and the Conservatives fielding 49 hopefuls.

The current council has 44 Labour councillors, 17 Conservatives and three Liberal Democrats.

There are four UKIP candidates headed by former Labour Mayor of Blackburn Michael Madigan in Blackburn South East; two Greens in Audley and Queen's Park and Wensley Fold and Independent Muntazir Patel in Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward.

Mr Browne, 76, said: "I am fighting again because, to be honest, I have missed the borough council."

Mr Rigby said: "Our family problems have resolved themselves and I actually like politics."

John Slater said: "We fight to hold what we have and make gains in Darwen, Roe Lee and even Ewood with Keith Murray."

Labour agent Phil Riley said: "We know it's going to be a tight contest in places. We have most to lose but hope to make gains in Blackburn South and Lower Darwen and Billinge and Beardwood."

Other sitting councillors standing down include: Labour's Amy Johnson, Trevor Maxfield, Shiraj Valli and John Wright.