VOTERS in Stacksteads go to the polls this week following the resignation of Labour councillor Dale Connearn.

Mr Connearn, 38, retired from Rossendale Council earlier this year, after only 14 months in the chamber, to spend more time with his three children.

He had been due to contest his seat in the local elections in May, but retained it without a fight when no candidates came forward to challenge him. However, two months later he made the announcement that he was to stand down.

Since his resignation three candidates, one from each of the main parties, have been battling to capture people's votes in the run-up to the by-election, which takes place tomorrow.

Ballot boxes will be out at four polling stations across the ward from 8am-9pm. Once polling is over the boxes will be taken to Stacksteads Methodist Church for the votes to be counted.

Labour candidate Christine Lamb is hoping to hold the seat for Labour to keep the party at level pegging with the Tories, at 17 seats each.

But Conservative candidate Sue Popland is hoping to take the seat and make a gain for the Tories on the council, although it would still remain hung.

And finally, Liberal Democrat candidate Terence Haslett-Jones is hoping to double his party's representation on the council from one to two.

The Labour party lost overall control of the council in May 2003, after only one year in control.