FOR the past 46 years, the party which won the General Election has taken the seat of Chorley.

It would take around an eight per cent swing from Labour to the Conservative Party for the Tories to win the seat.

This is around the same figure David Cameron’s party need nationally for him to become the next PM.

The independent polling analysts UK Polling Report have identified the constituency along with Dartford, Kent as one of the more reliable indicator or ‘bellwether’ seats in the country.

Current incumbent, Labour’s Lindsay Hoyle, believes the voting public will stick with him regardless of what the polls are suggesting will happen nationally.

“I care passionately about Chorley. I have always lived and worked here,” he said.

“Chorley is traditionally a ‘bellwether’ seat and I’m confident the electorate will recognise my record and support me whether there any national swings or not.”

His main rival, Conservative Alan Cullens said his findings from campaigning on the doorsteps reflected the Conservative lead in the opinion polls.

He said: “Chorley is normally a reliable indicator of the national mood and having spoken to scores of Chorley residents I’ve found people think a Conservative government will provide the real change the country needs.”

Since the last General Election in 2005, there have been some boundary changes, with Chorley losing the western part of the constituency.

Due to the redrawn boundary, the villages of Bretherton, Croston, Eccleston and Mawdesley all now vote for their MP in the South Ribble.

This removal of several of these predominantly Tory voting rural villages could be seen as a boost to Mr Hoyle.

A key issue identified by all candidates is the retention of employment in the borough, with several jobs blows recently such as the imminent closure of the forensic laboratory and the Inland Revenue centre.

Other issues on the agenda include the vibrancy of the town centre, with major developments in the offing such as an extension to the Market Walk shopping centre and an Asda store planned for Pall Mall.

Concerns have been expressed by town centre traders that such large developments could harm independent traders in the town.

Increased housing development, particularly in the Buckshaw Village area, means supporting infrastructure such as schools and medical provision are also being called for.

The area is also hoping to increase visitor numbers with Heritage Lottery investment in parks and refurbishment and improvements to the town’s two historic markets.

Lindsay Hoyle is defending a 7,625 majority from the Tories in 2005.

Asked about the issues pertinent to this election, he said: “Since the last election I have helped and responded to 48,000 enquiries from residents and businesses and have helped secure two new health centres and a new railway station at Buckshaw.

“If re-elected, I will continue to work tirelessly to get constituents’ voices heard in Westminster.”

Alan Cullens maintained the issues were the debt crisis, to stop the planned National Insurance rise and ensure a world class NHS.

He added: “Following the closure in Chorley of the tax office, post offices, pubs and soon Forensic Science Laboratory, we must ensure new jobs and investment are found.”

Hoping to cause an upset is the Liberal Democrat candidate Stephen Fenn. He said he had found a major concern was crime.

“As chairman of Clayton Brook PACT I have seen that a local police presence can reduce crime, but we still more police out on the streets,” he said.

“Chorley is fortunate with an excellent hospital and we need to ensure that the frontline services provided by the NHS are protected.

"I also want to see additional investment in local schools.”

The UKIP candidate declared in the race is pub landlord Nick Hogan for UKIP, who has pledged to give back 50 per cent of his salary to community projects if elected.

The fifth and final candidate is Chris Curtis, an Independent who is urging Chorley Borough Council create its own municipal bank to lessen the impact of the economic downturn on small businesses.

A significant proportion of votes have already been cast in Chorley, with the number of postal votes jumping from 24 per cent in 2005 to 30 per cent, one of the highest rates in the country.

That means 21,316 people have already received their ballot papers and are able to vote.