TAXPAYERS will not have to foot the bill for the postponement of the Worcestershire County Council election on May 3.

Local authorities will be compensated for expenses on reorganising the election which will now take place on June 7.

The county election will be a first for Health Concern, which has shaken up the district ballot box in a bid to restore services to Kidderminster Hospital.

Original nominations closed on Tuesday but a new closing date of May 10 has been set for the June election.

Current candidates will remain nominated unless they subsequently withdraw, but the new date gives others the chance to stand.

On current nominations three former Stourport mayors Jim Millington, Jim Cooper and John Gordon, along with Gary Talbot, will do battle for Mitton ward.

Nominations for Wyre Forest wards are:

Brinton Park: William Bradley (Labour), Peter Carter (Liberal Democrat), Alfred Lote (Conservative).

Chaddesley: Stephen Clee (Conservative), Peter Dyke (Liberal Democrat), Harry Grove (Health Concern), Adrian Sewell (Labour).

Cookley, Wolverley and Wribbenhall: Nigel Addison (Conservative), Conrad Bourne (Labour), Elizabeth Davies (Health Concern).

Habberley and Blakebrook: Clare Cassidy (Liberal Democrat), Louise Edginton (Conservative), Nigel Knowles (Labour).

Hoobrook: Helen Dyke (Liberal Democrat), John Friend (Conservative), Howard Martin (Health Concern), Christopher Nicholls (Labour).

Hurcott: Simon Ballinger (Labour), Mary Friend (Conservative), Frances Oborski (Liberal Party Focus Save Our Hospital).

Mitton: James Cooper (Labour), John Gordon (Health Concern), James Millington (Independent), Gary Talbot (Conservative).

Puxton: Neil Anderson (Conservative), Michael Shellie (Health Concern), John Wardle (Labour).

Rock and Bewdley: Frank Baillie (Health Concern), Robert Bash (Labour), Kenneth Peers (Conservative).

Severn: David Little (Conservative), James Parish (Health Concern), Carol Warren (Labour).

St Chads: Mary Gregory (Conservative), John Gretton (Labour), Michael Oborski (Liberal Party Focus Save Our Hospital).