Anti-social behaviour has been cited as a considerable problem in Nunnery over the last year, where Holy Trinity and St Matthew's Church in Ronkswood has been repeatedly vandalised.

Travellers have also caused residents a big headache by camping on the former Ronkswood Hospital site in Newtown Road.

Only 13 per cent of residents in Nunnery are at pensionable age, making it the second youngest ward in the city behind Warndon.

The ward also has unusually low home ownership - 25 per cent of all residents rent from a housing association, compared to 15 per cent elsewhere in the city.

Nunnery was the only ward in Worcester without a single councillor from a mainstream political party until last May.

Until last year it was represented by three independent councillors, until Coun Pat Agar, from the Labour Party, won a seat.

Coun Mike Layland - the Guildhall's longest-serving councillor - and Coun Keith Burton are the two independents who also serve the ward, with Coun Burton up for re-election this year.

Meet the candidates

Keith Burton, Independent

Mr Burton is married with a grown-up daughter.

He has lived in Worcester for most of his life and was educated at Nunnery Wood High School.

He ran a business with his wife but has now retired. He is chairman of the Spetchley Road residents association and an active member of Police And Communities Together.

His main concerns are excessive parking on Spetchley Road, a lack of affordable housing and social housing, and bus services.

He said he wants the skip site retained at Liverpool Road, wants the old hospital site in Ronkswood cleaned up, and is opposed to the proposed bus lane on Newtown Road.

Simon Cronin, Labour

Mr Cronin said he is known as a fighter for local people. He had been active in making the case for more youth services to keep local youngsters occupied, and in supporting people who want a cleaner neighbourhood.

Mr Cronin decided to stand for election when the Conservatives and Independents voted against more affordable homes in Worcester for local people.

He said he strongly believes the council should use the money from the sale of council houses to provide more affordable homes.

He said he is outraged that the Conservatives at the Guildhall, in his opinion, spend money on new logos and consultants rather than keeping Worcester clean.

Alex Gwinn, Green

Mr Gwinn said Worcester had been his home for the last 11 years and he found it to be a welcoming and friendly place.

He works as an IT training supervisor and staff governor at Worcester College of Technology.

He said that if elected he would work with others in attempting to make Worcester a Fairtrade city.

Mr Gwinn said work needs doing in his home ward, and he will make changes people can actually see.

He said wants to make a visible difference in improving the streets and the wider environment.

Michael Peat, BNP

Mr Peat was born and bred in the city and was educated at Worcester Grammar School.

He is a family man with two children and one grandson. He has had a full-time job as a dispatch operator for the past 10 years.

He describes himself as a people person and says he has many friends in Worcester.

Mr Peat loves walking his dog and watching his beloved Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

He says the National Health Service has been betrayed by Labour and blames them for its financial crisis.

Lorraine Taylor, Conservative

LORRAINE Taylor said Conservatives are working to enhance the quality of life in the city, and the party has already delivered litter and dog bins, conducted litter blitzes and carried out enforcement against littering and dog fouling.

She also said CCTV had been upgraded, parks and play areas improved and responsibility for running community centres delegated to local groups.

She said the Conservatives had also delivered many more affordable homes through the planning system than under Labour and prevented many more from becoming homeless.

She pledged that she would seek to ensure value for money and low council tax.