VOTERS in Whitefield will go to the polls once again next week.

A by-election is being held in Besses ward just weeks after May’s local elections. It follows Labour’s Elizabeth FitzGerald’s resignation due to work commitments.

Lucy Smith will defend the seat for Labour at the election on Thursday, July 19. The lifelong party member says fighting for a higher police presence and working with the community for change will be among her priorities.

But she will face strong competition from five other candidates.

The Tories will field Jordan Lewis, a Whitefield-raised public transport worker.

He is promising to tackle the borough’s pothole problem, reduce noise pollution from the M60 and “fight for a better deal” from the town hall.

Stephen Morris, who came third at the full round of local elections in May, will again run for the English Democrats.

The father-of-three lives in the Besses ward and says any decision he makes as councillor will directly affect him and his family, as well as every other resident.

He is also the general secretary of the Workers of England Trade Union

Liberal Democrat candidate Gareth Lloyd-Johnson has already hit out at Labour for causing a by-election at an estimated cost of £15,000.

But he says that he will use it as an opportunity to “highlight failings” by the council and is pledging to make mental health services his “central focus” if elected.

UKIP’s candidate is Michael Zwierzanski. Party spokesman Steve Evans said: “These by-elections will change little her in Bury. We urge committed Brexiteers from all backgrounds to strike a free hit for Brexit, lend us your vote and send a clear message to the two main parties. that you will not accept a vassal-state Brexit

Glyn Heath is the Green Party Candidate. The former Labour councillor says he is “totally committed to stopping any loss of green belt land” as well as fighting for grass roots democracy and social justice.