FORMER Southend Carnival chairman Mike Steptoe can already look forward to taking up a seat on Rochford District Council.

Tory Mr Steptoe owns a garage in Shoebury but lives in Barling, where he is already a parish councillor.

The lack of rival candidates when nominations closed means he can be sure to become councillor for Barling and Sutton. The same is true for fellow Tory Barbara Wilkins who will be returned unopposed in Foulness and Great Wakering The most hotly-contested ward is Lodge, in Rayleigh, where sitting Tory David Merrick faces English Democrat, UKIP and Green challengers.

There will also be a four-way contest in Rayleigh's Trinity Ward, where council chairman Keith Gibbs has Labour, Lib Dem and English Democrat rivals.

In Rochford town, electors get two votes, because of the resignation of Sue Harper - and have the choice of Tories, Labour, Greens and English Democrats.

Tory council leader Terry Cutmore faces opposition from Lib Dem and Green candidates in Ashingdon and Canewdon ward.

The BNP is fielding candidates in two wards, Hockley North and Hullbridge, where in both cases, it came second last time.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES
ASHINGDON & CANEWDON Terry Cutmore (Con)* Valerie Stanton (Lib Dem) Andrew Vaughan (Green)
BARLING & SUTTON (no contest) Mike Steptoe (Con)
FOULNESS & GREAT WAKERING (no contest) Barbara Wilkins (Con)*
HOCKLEY CENTRAL Jeremy Thomass (Con)* David Thompson (Lab)
HOCKLEY NORTH Michaal Carter (Con)* Mark Cooling (BNP) Sheila Downard (Lab)
HOCKLEY WEST Brian Hazlewood (Ind) Malcolm Maddocks (Con)
HULLBRIDGE Robert Green (BNP) Angelina Marriott (Lab) Peter Robinson (Con)*
LODGE Janet Davies (UKIP) Paula Hayter (Eng Dem) Neil Kirsh (Green) David Merrick (Con)*
RAYLEIGH CENTRAL Tony Humphries (Con)* Michael Nobes (Lib Dem)
ROCHFORD (two seats) Douglas Copping (Green) Keith Gordon (Con)* David Lench (Lab) Gillian Lucas-Gill (Con) Margaret Stoll (Eng Dem) Myra Weir (Lab)
SWEYNE PARK Kim Gandy (Eng Dem) Joan Mockford (Con)* Patricia Putt (Lib Dem)
TRINITY Keith Gibbs (Con)* John Hayter (Eng Dem) Peter Lickfold (Lab) Mark Pearson (Lib Dem)
WHEATLEY John Pullen (Con)* Corey Vost (Lib Dem)
WHITEHOUSE Kenneth Bennett (Eng Dem) Elena Black (Lib Dem) Simon Smith (Con)*
* denotes sitting councillor