FIVE candidates are hot on the campaign trail hoping to win enough public votes on General Election day (May 7) to become the MP for Torridge and West Devon.

Conservative Geoffrey Cox will be attempting a hat-trick, after winning the constituency elections in 2005 and 2010, to begin a third term as the area's MP.

Mr Cox won 45% of the vote in 2010, gaining a majority of 2,957 over the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Cox, who was brought up in the West Country, lives in Lamerton with his wife Jeanie and his family and is involved in the local community, being president of Tavistock Football Club and trustee of a Tavistock mental health charity. He is also vice president of the North Devon Hospice.

Over the past ten years he has led campaigns against post office closures and against urban centred policies.

Mr Cox said: 'The main issue is the economy. We have to keep on track, stick to the plan which is delivering the fastest growing economy in the Western world. The recovery is delivering more jobs, top quality apprenticeships and low inflation.

'There are big issues locally. We need a significant increase in investment to create high quality opportunities and infrastructure including better broadband, better rural transport and better road and rail links.

'I am sure if we continue our economic recovery then we will protect our vital rural services like the NHS, public transport and education. We are making significant progress in those areas, with the recent injection of £16.2-million into Devon's education providing around an extra £200 funding per pupil. I believe strongly that with more investment we are on the right path.'

The Liberal Democrat candidate is Bude resident Paula Dolphin who has worked for many years in industry, manufacturing, catering and has run her own business. She has also gained experience in politics at a local level as a town, district and county councillor.

'I've had a varied working career, and am always happy to roll up my sleeves and do what is needed.' she said.

'I am a problem solver, creative and always thinking outside the box. I want to tackle the issues of inequalities faced by people living in rural areas compared to the ease of access to the services we all rely on for those in urban areas. 

'People living in rural areas earn less, yet have higher housing costs; live longer, yet find healthcare more difficult to access; pay more for fuel and energy and have fewer opportunities in education training and leisure activities.

'I want the needs of our rural area to be addressed by government to a greater extent than it is now.'

UKIP's Derek Sargent from Bideford has lived in the Torridge and West Devon constituency with his wife Marjorie and two daughters since October 1988.

Born and educated in Dorset, Mr Sargent said both his parents came from working class families and very humble surroundings.

He is a former Royal Marine and later worked as a hotel owner, security consultant and a benefit fraud investigator.

'I am the product of the social mobility revolution which came about through the extensive education I received from the State system,' he said.

'I have travelled extensively in my military career and business career and, as a result, have gained a great knowledge base of other people and their concerns.

'My values in life are based on a strong Christian upbringing. I am the second eldest of eight children, but I consider myself lucky to have been brought up in the beautiful Dorset countryside enjoying the mainstays of my childhood, Scouting and the church choir.'

Cathrine Simmons has been a member of the Green Party for more than 30 years. She has lived in North Devon for 45 years mostly in Great Torrington. She has served on district, town and parish councils. More recently she was elected onto Torridge District Council and is mayor elect for Great Torrington Town Council.

Ms Simmons said: 'The NHS has been a real focus for me in the last 18 months as we have been trying to save Torrington Community Hospital.

'I feel strongly that the alternative "care at home" is inadequate for many vulnerable people and we need our small local hospitals at a time when we have an aging population.'

Ms Simmons is also concerned about 'the erosion of social justice' and wants more effort put into the care of the environment.

She said: 'This does not mean lower living conditions but more fuel efficient homes and less pollution from transport. It means cleaner rivers and beaches, no pesticides in our food and continued diversity in our countryside and in other parts of the world.'

Michael Sparling is the candidate for the Labour Party.

He lives in the constituency and his family has a successful waste recycling business near Tavistock.

A philosophy and politics graduate, he was elected to Plymouth City Council in May last year.

Mr Sparling said:?'I am a local man, born in this constituency and I care very much about this constituency.

'The reason I'm Labour is because of my upbringing. I was raised with a strong sense of right and wrong, of the responsibility to speak up for those people who need help, and for those people without a voice.

'I believe that co-operatively we can build a better society.

'I feel West Devon and Torridge deserves a full time MP who is a local person. It's quite clear to me that working families in the constituency are being let down because they don't have a full time MP currently. If elected, working families and small businesses will be my absolute priority.'