VOTERS go to the polls to elect a new member for West Devon's Milton Ford ward today (Thursday).

There are two candidates fighting for the seat on West Devon Borough Council, made vacant by the resignation of Independent councillor Michael Pithouse in March.

Dilwyn Hughes, 72, is the Conservative candidate. A former member of Plymouth City Council and chairman of the local NFU branch, Mr Hughes is a retired farmer who lives at Lifton.

Liberal Democrat candidate Martin Taylor, 62, has also retired from farming.

Mr Taylor is an NFU Devon council member — he also belongs to WestDEN environmental group and is a trustee of Devon Agenda 21. He lives at Bere Alston.

Milton Ford covers the Chillaton, Lewdown and Milton Abbot areas — polling stations are situated at Meadwell Hall, Kelly, The Old Smithy in Chillaton, the Victory Hall in Lewdown and the village hall in Milton Abbot.

Votes can be cast between 8am and 9pm.

The current make-up of the borough council is: Independents 12, Conservatives 9 and Liberal Democrats 8.