FOUR of Redditch's eight representatives on Worcestershire County Council are not standing for re-election on May 5.

Labour stalwarts Colin Beardwood and John Witherspoon are both standing down, as are long-standing Conservative member Tom Wareing and Liberal Democrat Diane Thomas.

However, Labour members Betty Passingham, Andy Fry and Philip Mould are hoping to retain their seats for the next four-year term, along with Conservative Philip Gretton.

Five of the candidates are already representatives on Redditch Council and include Mark Shurmer, Pattie Hill, Dot Dudley and Bill Hartnett for Labour and Juliet Brunner for the Tories.

Barry Gandy, husband of Redditch Council's Tory group leader, Carole, is also standing as a Conservative candidate for the Redditch south ward.

l County Council Candidates

Arrow Valley East: Brandon Clayton (Con); Bill Hartnett (Lab); Christopher Hennessey (Lib Dem); Betty Passingham (Lab); John Stanley (Lib Dem); Paul Swansborough (Con).

Arrow Valley West: Kathleen Banks (Con); Gordon Craig (Con); Kathleen Cummings (Lib Dem); Andrew Fry (Lab); Adam Isherwood (Lib Dem); Philip Mould (Lab).

Redditch North: Zafran Akhtar (Lib Dem); Juliet Brunner (Con); Dorothy Dudley (Lab); Robin Lunn (Lab); Colin MacMillan (Con); Anthony Pitt (Lib Dem); Jim Uphill (Ind).

Redditch South: Barry Gandy (Con); William Gretton (Con); Pattie Hill (Lab); David Mews (Lib Dem); Graham Pollard (Lib Dem); Mark Shurmer (Lab).