NO party currently has overall control of Worcestershire County Council.

A Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition runs the authority although the Conservatives hold the highest number of seats by any one party.

Turnout for the 1997 elections was good, the highest being in the Malvern Link ward when 85.90 per cent of the electorate went to the polls and produced a majority of just 12 for Liberal Democrat Barbara Watton, who is not standing this time round.

Current number of councillors: Conservatives 25, Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 8, Liberal 1, Independent 1, Independent Kidderminster Hospital 1.

2001 candidates and

1997 results

Croome

Candidates: Andrew Boughton, Liberal Democrat; Robert Bullock, Conservative; Ann Storey-Day, Green.

1997 result: Robert Bullock, Conservative, 2,703; Denis Haugh, Liberal Democrat, 1,493; Dawn Tizard, Labour, 835. Conservative hold, majority 1,210.

Hallow

Candidates: David Cropp, Liberal Democrat; Alwyn Davies, Conservative.

1997 result: Alwyn Davies, Conservative, 3,262; David Cropp, Liberal Democrat, 1,690; Guy Martyr, Labour, 830. Conservative hold, majority 1,572.

Malvern Chase

Candidates: Diane Rayner, Liberal Democrat; Alex Stewart-Cleary, Conservative.

1997 result: Diane Rayner, Liberal Democrat, 2,772; Stephen Cooper, Conservative, 1,749; Lynne Hall, Labour, 696; Ann Whitty, Independent, 248. Lib Dem hold, majority 1,032.

Malvern Langland

Candidates: Jennette Davy, Liberal Democrat; Robert Dowler, Green; Joyce Draper, Conservative; Matthew Mead, Labour.

1997 result: Jennette Davy, Liberal Democrat, 2,061; Whinray Coates, Conservative, 1,216; Barry Palmer, Labour, 1,040. Lib Dem hold, majority 865.

Malvern Link

Candidates: Mark Dodsworth, Labour; Beryl Hickling, Conservative; David Williams, Liberal Democrat.

1997 result: Barbara Watton, Liberal Democrat, 2,663; Beryl Hickling, Conservative, 2,651; Marilyn Wood, Labour, 1,166. Lib Dem hold, majority 12.

Malvern Trinity

Candidates: David McKerracher, Conservative; Jeremy Webb, Liberal Democrat.

1997 result: Jeremy Webb, Liberal Democrat, 2,432; Anthony Ogilvie, Conservative, 1,740; Gill Holt, Labour, 893, Phillip Jupp, Independent, 240. Lib Dem hold, majority 692.

Powick

Candidates: Toby Bruce-Morgan, Conservative; Tom Wells, Liberal Democrat.

1997 result: Tom Wells, Liberal Democrat, 2,571, Toby Bruce-Morgan, 2,404; John Randall, Labour, 457. Lib Dem gain, majority 167.

Tenbury

Candidates: Reg Farmer, Conservative; Michael Jenner, Green; George Price, Liberal Democrat.

1997 result: Reg Farmer, Conservative, 2,444; Alan Tranter, no party given, 1,507. Conservative hold, majority 937.