REDDITCH cannot have seen a more keenly fought general election campaign in recent times and with nominations in, it's full steam ahead for the candidates before polling day next Thursday.

Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and UK Independence Party candidates have all thrown their hats into the ring.

In 2001, Labour won 16,899 votes, Conservatives 14,415, Liberal Democrats 3,808, UKIP 1,215 and the Green Party 651. Turnout was only 59 per cent.

There is no Green Party candidate this time and Labour's Jacqui Smith is defending a slender majority of 2,484.

The eyes of the country are also watching Redditch, especially after the MG Rover collapse. On Friday, BBC Radio 4 broadcast Any Questions from Arrow Vale Community High School and there has been much national media interest in what is happening here.

Here, the Advertiser profiles each of the candidates and they have also been invited to talk directly to you.