HYNDBURN'S first ever all-postal election looks set to be a closely-fought contest.

After snatching control of the borough by just one seat last year following ward boundaries changes, Labour will be hoping to stave off the challenge from the Conservatives.

Hyndburn's seats were cut from 47 to 35 by the shake-up and Labour emerged the election night victors after securing 18 seats to the Tories' 17.

This year, Hyndburn is a two-horse race apart from the Barnfield seat where Green Party candidate Ian Dixon will stand. The far-right BNP are not fielding any candidates after it missed the nominations deadline.

With voting taking place in 12 wards, each party is defending six seats and candidates are hoping that this year's all-postal vote will increase the turnout from 35.8 per cent last year.

One man who is hoping to resurrect his political career is Derek Scholes who lost out more than most last year.

Mr Scholes was mayor-elect until his Baxenden constituency was reduced from three seats to two. After being deselected by the Conservatives to stand in Baxenden, he stood in Barnfield and lost to Wendy Dwyer by 32 votes.

This year Mr Scholes is challenging Malcolm Pritchard for his Milnshaw seat.

Meanwhile Coun Dwyer, who is this year's mayor-elect, may suffer the same fate as she inflicted on Mr Scholes, with three candidates contesting her seat, including Ian Dixon and first-timer Paul Barton representing the Conservatives.

The borough's Labour candidates may yet rue belonging to the same party that axed two-thirds of its care homes in spite of massive public opposition.

Three homes in Hyndburn have been earmarked for closure -- Peel Court, Oswaldtwistle; Acorn Lodge, Accrington; and Northlands in Great Harwood, with Baxenden's Hill Top to be axed but used for other OAP services.

Campaigners took their fight all the way, reaching a settlement with the county council just before a judicial review into their decision was to take place in the High Court. But there is still a lot of hurt and anger over the closures.

Ken Nolan, newly elected chairman of the Lancashire Care Association, said: "I believe it will certainly be an issue that will affect how people vote.

"Successive governments have failed to properly fund care homes, demonstrated by the recent loss of 50,000 beds in the country. It's no coincidence that as we lose care home capacity, pressure on the NHS hospitals increases."

Another "hot potato" is the proposed extension of the life of controversial landfill site at Whinney Hill.

County councillors are set to decide in July whether plans to install a one-way system at the junction of the already congested Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, and Henry Street, is a good idea.

"Campaigners are furious about the amount of traffic the tip generates, citing health and environmental risks.

They are fighting for an extra junction from the M65 but will have to await the outcome of July's council decision.

Alan Clitheroe, treasurer of Residents of Altham, Clayton-le-Moors and Huncoat, said: "No doubt it's going to affect the way people vote although we as a group are non-political."

In the meantime the council's ranks have been through a difficult year that saw chief finance officer Allan Rainford leave while under investigation for a computer-related incident.

Leader Ian Ormerod had to take an enforced break earlier this year after suffering a stroke two weeks before Christmas ,although he is back at the helm now.

Chief executive Mike Chambers, announced his resignation this month after being offered the deputy chief executive's job at Oldham. He is set to leave in the summer after his deputy Dan Sherry, who announced his imminent departure in November following a management shake-up.

In the Altham ward, Michael Taylor who came in fourth out of five candidates in Clayton-le-Moors last year with 476 votes, is having another bite of the cherry, challenging Miles Parkinson for his seat.

Results will be announced at Hyndburn Leisure Centre on Thursday, May 1.