VOTERS across West Devon go to the polls next Thursday to elect members to the European Parliament.

Eight parties are vying for votes in the giant South West region that elects seven MEPs.

The region is currently represented by four Conservatives MEPs, one Labour, one Liberal Democrat and one UK Independence Party member.

The Conservatives are campaigning hard to retain their four MEPs. Long standing Euro MP Giles Chichester, third on his party's list, has been out and about in West Devon. Sitting Tory MEP Lord Stockton, who lives at Stowford, is fifth on his party's list of candidates so faces a tough fight to win re-election.

The Liberal Democrats' top choice is sitting MEP Graham Watson — the Liberal Democrats fared badly five years ago and will be hoping to increase their representation this time.

Meanwhile, UKIP held a major rally in Tavistock Town Hall recently. The South West is strong territory for the relatively new party and they are hoping to gain at least one more seat. If they were successful it would mean the election of former Tory MP Roger Knapman, now the UKIP leader, who lives at Coryton.

Also waving the political flag is the Green Party, whose 'Big Green Bus' recently visited Tavistock.

Labour's top choice is another sitting MEP, Glyn Ford, who hails from Gloucestershire.

Other parties contesting the election are the British National Party, Countryside Party, and Respect — the Unity Coalition.

The South West seat stretches from Gloucestershire to the Isles of Scilly and even includes Gibraltar — it has been included with the South West to ensure it is represented in the EU.

The voting system differs from that of a general election. In the Euro election, a proportional representation system is used. This is known as the d'Hondt system after its creator and operates as follows:

n Electors vote for a 'slate' of party candidates that have been listed by their respective parties.

n Once the ballot papers have been counted, the first of the seven South West seats will be allocated to the party with the greatest number of votes. It will go to the first name on that party's list of candidates. That party's total vote is then divided into two.

n The second seat will be allocated the same way. If the highest number of votes is for a different party then their top candidate is elected and that party's vote is then divided into two.

n If a party succeeds in getting two of its candidates elected then its vote is divided into three.

n The process continues until all the seats in the region have been allocated.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, June 10. The result will not be announced until after polling has taken place in other EU countries on the Friday and Sunday.THE full list of candidates for the South West regional seat in the European Elections:

British National Party: Anthony Robert North, Brixham; Michaela Beryl Mackenzie, Bristol; Barry John Sinclair Bennett, Bournemouth; Edward Peter Mullins, Bolventor; Robert Anthony Baggs, Calne, Wiltshire; Bruce Jeremy Cowd, Donwear, Somerset; Frederick William Paynter, Cheltenham.

Conservatives — Putting Britain First: Neil Quentin Gordon Parish, Bridgwater; Caroline Frances Jackson, Abingdon, Oxon; Giles Bryan Chichester, Ottery St Mary; Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham, Cirencester; Alexander Daniel Alan Stockton, Stowford; Jack Lopresti, Bristol; Julie McCulloch Girling, Chipping Campden.

Countryside Party: Christopher Philip Thomas-Everard, Dulverton; Brian Crawford, Barnstaple; Diana Mary Scott, Watchet; Ranulph Fiennes, Exford; Archibald John Montgomery, Yeovil; John Antony Yewdall, Bideford.

Green Party: David Ronald Moore Taylor, Somerton; Emily Rachel McIvor, Salisbury; Carol Jill Kambites, Stroud; Anthony John Bown, South Molton; Lyana Patricia Mary Armstrong-Emery, Gibraltar; Katharine Chant, Exeter; Paul Anthony Edwards, Crediton.

Labour Party: James Glyn Ford, Newnham, Gloucestershire; Bernadette Isobel Hartley, Churchdown, Gloucestershire; Ian James White, Bristol; Clare Miranda Moody, Salisbury; Keir Singh Dhillon, Churchdown, Gloucestershire; Julie Watts, Bristol; David Kevin Righton Roberts. Salisbury.

Liberal Democrats: Graham Robert Watson, Langport, Somerset; Anthony Cleland Welch, Havant, Hants; Kay Barnard, Paydell, Somerset; Simon Peter Green, East Wittering, West Sussex; Christine Ruth Coleman, Chippenham, Wilts; Katherine Frances Hall, Bath; Alistair Ronald Cameron, Cheltenham.

Respect — The Unity Coalition (George Galloway): Paulette Ann North, Westbury-on-Trym; Sami Velioglu, Bristol; Hannah Louise Packham, Coleford, Gloucs; Ann Elizabeth Thomas, Bristol; John Martin Bampfylde, Bath; Bernard Edward Parkes, Portland; Anthony Nicholas Staunton, Plymouth.

UK Independence Party: Graham Harry Booth, Paignton; Roger Maurice Knapman, Coryton; Bernard Trevor Colman, Bishopsteignton; Elizabeth Mary Burton, South Molton; Matthew John Jackson, Winkleigh; Michael Patrick Faulkner, Penzance; Andrew Stephen Reed, Glastonbury.