THE countdown to the May local elections has started.

Worcestershire voters go to the polls on Thursday, May 1, to vote on who will represent them on their district councils.

It will be a real test for the Worcester City Council's Conservative administration following recent budget cuts.

It fulfilled its commitment to balance the budget but had to make some unpopular cuts to achieve it, including slashing youth service grants budget by £30,000 and reducing the Swan Theatre's grant.

All eyes will be on council leader Councillor Stephen Inman, who will be contesting his seat in Claines ward.

The resignation of Labour councillor Ray Turner last week, in protest at his party taking the country into war with Iraq, means there will be two seats up for grabs in St Nicholas ward.

At the last round of elections in May 2002 the Tories effectively gained control of the council when it snatched three seats from Labour - before then both parties had 15 seats each.

A third of the seats on the council - 12 out of 36 - are being contested in May.

In the Tory-controlled Wychavon and Malvern Hills district councils, all seats are up for grabs.

Meanwhile, the trend towards independent politics is spreading to Wychavon's Droitwich wards.

A group of residents has decided to challenge candidates from the three main parties, who they believe have allowed the town to deteriorate.

And in Wyre Forest, where a third of the council's seats are to be contested, independent Kidderminster Hospital Health Concern councillors will face their first challenge since taking control from Labour last year.

Anyone who wants to stand as a candidate has just over a week to hand in their nomination papers - the deadline is noon on Tuesday, April 1.

All electors are entitled to apply for a postal vote, but the deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday, April 23.