THE two main political parties in the area are squaring up to do battle in a by-election for a seat on West Devon Borough Council next month.
Conservative Dilwyn Hughes and Liberal Democrat Martin Taylor are the only candidates for the Milton Ford ward that covers the Chillaton, Lewdown and Milton Abbot area. Both candidates live in wards bordering Milton Ford.
The by-election is the first test of political strength on West Devon since the elections last May when the Tories and Independents made gains at the expense of the Liberal Democrats.
The Liberal Democrats will hope to build on their recent success in a Tavistock Town Council by-election when they narrowly held a seat in a four-way fight. The Tories will hope to reinforce their record strength on the borough where they hold nine seats.
Conservative Mr Hughes, 72, is a retired farmer and for six years has lived at Lifton where he is a churchwarden. He has lived in Devon for 27 years.
He is chairman of his local branch of the NFU and of its county branch education and labour committee. He has been a member of the Milk Marketing Board's South East regional milk records committee and has held various posts in the Conservative Party
Liberal Democrat Martin Taylor, 62, is chairman of the Council of Voluntary Services. He was a dairy farmer in Gawton, Bere Alston, for almost 40 years until retiring and a member of the Devon Council of the NFU.
Mr Taylor has a long association with the Tavonians amateur dramatic group, including stints as its secretary and chairman.
He is also a member of the WestDen environmental group and a trustee of the Devon Agenda 21.
The by-election was caused by the recent resignation of Independent Michael Pithouse who represented Milton Ford for almost five years.
Polling day is Thursday May 4 between 8am and 9pm. Postal or proxy vote applications must be in to West Devon Council's returning officer by 5pm on Thursday, April 13.
The current make up of West Devon Council is: Independents 12, Conservatives 9 and Liberal Democrats 8.