SUSAN Juned is a biologist, gaining her MSc and PhD at the University of Birmingham, where she worked as a research scientist.

She now works freelance as a consultant on environmental projects.

She is married with three grown-up children, who all attended Alcester schools.

During her time as leader between 1997 and 2000, Stratford District Council won awards for environmental work and became one of only two councils to gain and regain the EMAS national environmental audit certificate.

The council also became nationally known for being at the forefront of the work done on Village Design statements and Parish Appraisals.

Mrs Juned serves as a school governor and is active in promoting support for young people.

She is chairman of Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice and serves as a member of an Environment Agency advice group and the West Midlands Regional Chamber.

Mrs Juned said: "I want to increase funding for books and equipment and cut bureaucracy in schools and abolish university tuition fees.

"The fear of crime blights the lives of many people and I want to see extra police officers on our streets.

"And more needs to be done for pensioners. The Liberal Democrats propose to increase the basic state pension by £5 a week for each pensioner, £10 for over 75s and £15 for the over 80s."

Mrs Juned also lists the environment and the need for an affordable and reliable transport system as major concerns.