THE Forest of Dean seat, which includes Newent, Dymock, Staunton and Corse and Redmarley, has been held since 1997 by Labour's Diana Organ, who is standing down, Before 1997, it was held by the Conservative Paul Marland. Labour's majority was cut from 6,343 in 1997 to 2,049 last time by the Conservative challenger Mark Harper, who is standing again.

CONSERVATIVE Mark Harper, 35, is a chartered accountant by profession and lives in the constituency with his wife, Margaret, and two labradors. He is a governor of Newent Community School and said policing, housing and the economy of the area were his key issues.

LABOUR'S Isabel Owen, 31, lives in Newham and works in Cinderford, as head of office for Glyn Ford, Labour MEP for the South West. She says she will focus on attracting high-skilled jobs to the area, improving transport and infrastructure, reducing crime and introducing more affordable housing. At the 2001 election she stood for Labour in Tiverton and Honiton in Devon.

PATRICIA HILL is standing for the UK Independence Party. Patricia, 58, lives in Newent and has been a supply teacher in the town. She still teaches English at venues in and around the constituency. A former civil servant, Conservative activist and policy forum co-ordinator for the party at Central Office, she stood for the Tories in district council elections for Newent North-East last time round.

Also selected to fight the seat are CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN for the Liberal Democrats and STEPHEN TWEEDIE for the Green Party.

2001 result: Diana Organ (Lab), 19,350; Mark Harper (Cons) 17,301; David Gayler (Lib Dem) 5,762; Simon Pickering (Green) 1,254; Allen Prout (UKIP) 661; Gerald Morgan (Ind) 279. Turnout: 67.3 per cent.