THE candidates set to contest an upcoming by-election have spoken ahead of the public going to the polls.

Dave Cassidy, Derek Gawne and Stephen Pickthall are to vie with each other to represent the Old Barrow and Hindpool ward on Westmorland and Furness Council, which came into being on April 1.

The seat would have been occupied by Ann Thomson, of Labour, who died in January following a period of illness.

Mr Cassidy, also of Labour, is a native of the Ferry Road Triangle and project lead of the Inspiring Barrow Kick-start programme. He said he was 'not taking anything for granted'.

“Improvements are needed and I will be liaising with residents and Westmorland and Furness Council officers to make measurable changes," he said.

“Some national polling suggests the Conservatives are on the ropes and, while that will come into the mix, these elections are about regional and local issues.

“I will be pressing for adequate funding and I won't be staying silent if we are being sold short.”

Mr Gawne, who represents the Conservatives, said he would be 'for Barrow' and its residents 'like I always have been'.

He said he wanted to do what was best for Barrow because it was 'being ruled by people not in the town'.

"We've got to try and make our voice heard over the voices of people from out of town because they don't know the area, a lot of people don't know the area," he said.

"They used to think that Barrow was a nonentity because we were at the end of a 35-mile cul-de-sac."

Mr Pickthall, campaigning for the Liberal Democrats, said it was 'time for change' and that Barrovians were 'fed up of years of broken promises and being taken for granted by the Conservatives and Labour'.

"I’m proud to be campaigning on the issues that matter most to local people, whether it’s standing up for the NHS or fighting to end the scandal of sewage being dumped in our local lakes, rivers and sea," he said.

Polling for the ward is to take place on May 4. Members of the public have until 11.59pm on Monday to register to vote. This can be done by visiting gov.uk/register-to-vote