THE country's three main political parties have unfurled their colours for this year's council elections in West Devon.

The national coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats does not figure at local level where both parties will be fighting each other in many wards.

And the Labour Party is making its presence felt, with candidates fighting ten of West Devon Borough Council's 31 wards.

One surprise in this round of elections, for which nominations closed on Monday, is the absence of any candidates from other parties, such as the UK?Independence Party.

But the tradition of Independent candidates lives on in 13 of the wards, boosted a little by the fact that some candidates who in earlier elections pinned their colours to a party political mast are now standing as Independents.

The biggest field is in Tavistock North where ten candidates are after the three seats.

In Okehampton there are five candidates contesting each of the town's two wards — there are two seats in each ward.

Some familiar faces have stood down from the council, among them former borough mayors Dennis Bater, Margaret Garton, Christine Grills and Robin Pike.

Three wards have not attracted enough candidates for an election — Buckland Monachorum (2 seats), Drewsteignton and Milton Ford.

It means three Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat are already set to take up seats in the council chamber.

The current make-up of the 31-seat borough council is Independents 12, Conservatives 11, Liberal Democrats 8.

Elections take place on Thursday May 5.

Wards and candidates for West Devon seats are as follows — all are Independents unless otherwise stated:

Bere Ferrers (2 seats)

Jo Agnew: Lab

Mike Benson: Cons

Joyce Bottse: Lib Dem

Robin Musgrave: Lib Dem

Andrew Sadleir: Cons

Bridestowe (1 seat)

John Hockridge

Alison Young: Lab

BucklandMonachorum

(2 seats — candidates returned unopposed)

Philip Sanders: Cons

David Wilde: Lib Dem

Burrator (1 seat)

Ann Ellis: Lib Dem

Diana Moyse: Cons

Chagford (1 seat)

Nicky Heyworth: Cons

Robert Sampson

Martin Young: Lab

Drewsteignton

(1 seat — candidate

returned unopposed)

Paul Ridgers: Cons

Exbourne (1 seat)

Trevor Hill

Anne Lucas:?Cons

Hatherleigh (1 seat)

Graham Alford

Peter Brickley: Lab

Ricki Entwistle:?Lib Dem

Christine Hall: Cons

Lew Valley (1 seat)

Christopher Bones:?Lib Dem

James McInnes:?Cons

Lydford (1 seat)

David Rogers: Lib Dem

Lynne Rose: Cons

Mary Tavy (1 seat)

Tracey Oxborough:?Cons

Terry Pearce

Milton Ford

(1 seat — candidate

returned unopposed)

Bob Baldwin:?Cons

North Tawton (1 seat)

John Lucas:?Cons

Nick Morgan

Okehampton East (2 seats)

Kevin Ball:?Cons

Terry Cummings:?Lab

Edna Hicks

Jayne Hill:?Cons

Tony Leech

Okehampton West (2 seats)

Malcolm Calder:?Lab

Christine Marsh:?Cons

Mike Morse:?Cons

David Weekes

John Young: Lib Dem

South Tawton (1 seat)

Janet Brickley:?Lab

William Cann

Tamarside (1 seat)

Adrian Hepworth:?Lib Dem

John Sheldon

David Whitcomb: Cons

Tavistock North (3 seats)

Sue Bailey:?Cons

Adam Bridgewater:?Lib Dem

Moira Brown:?Lab

Roy Connelly

Mike Harper:?Cons

Ann Keelan:?Lib Dem

Darren Lake: Cons

Jeff Moody

Ted Sanders

Martin?Taylor:?Lib Dem

Tavistock South (3 seats)

Helena Ancil:?Lib Dem

Kirstie Clish-Green:?Lib Dem

Ian Gasper:?Lab

Mandy Govier:?Cons

Robert Oxborough:?Cons

Ted Sherrell

Tavistock South West (1 seat)

Alison Clish-Green:?Lib Dem

David Rose:?Cons

Michael Sparling:?Lab

Thrushel (1 seat)

Gail Bones:?Lib Dem

Donald Horn: Cons

Walkham (2 seats)

David Cloke

Michael Parle:?Lib Dem

Debo Sellis: Cons

Graham Turner: Lib Dem