THREE candidates will be contesting Wiltshire Council's Chippenham Hardenhuish ward on May 7.

The by-election is being held because Liberal Democrat Nick Watts is moving away.

Standing to replace him are Ken Brough for the Liberal Democrats, Tina Johnston for the Green Party and Melody Thompson for the Conservatives.

Mrs Thompson, 39, co-founder of 24-7 Staffing and chair of Chippenham Business Improvement District, narrowly lost out to Mr Watts in the 2013 election with 28 per cent of the votes to 30, but at that time was representing the independent Chippenham Champions.

She said she joined the Conservatives because: "I am results driven. I want to be getting things done on the inside rather than standing outside, throwing stones.

"The last two years as an Independent [town] councillor has shown me that the political tensions between the Lib Dems, who control the town council, and the Conservatives at County Hall, do not serve us well."

Organic farmer Ms Johnston, 49, of Church Fields, South Wraxall is also standing as an MP for the Chippenham constituency and has been the only prospective parliamentary candidate to voice her absolute opposition to The Range siting their Southern distribution centre west of the A350 in Chippenham.

Mr Brough, 42, of Ladyfield Road, Chippenham, has just replaced Mr Watts on Chippenham Town Council in an uncontested election for the Hardenhuish ward. He used to drive for Easy's Taxis and First's Chippenham to Bath bus but no longer works because of a disability. He is a parent governor for Frogwell Primary and sits on Wiltshire Council's children's select committee.