Date set for by-election in Northampton

Blacky More Community Centre will be one of the polling stations for the by-election

A date has been set for a by-election caused by the resignation of a prominent councillor.

The vote will take place in the Northampton ward of East Hunbury and Shelfleys on West Northamptonshire Council on 8 February.

The seat became available with the resignation of Suresh Patel as a result of "serious health issues".

Three candidates have been nominated to fight the election and four polling stations have been identified.

Suresh Patel resigned in December due to "serious health issues"

The Conservative party said that Suresh Patel resigned last month due to "serious health issues" and medical advice to reduce stress.

Mr Patel was one of three Conservatives elected to serve the East Hunsbury and Shelfleys ward in the first set of elections for the recently-created unitary council.

The three candidates fighting to replace him are Clare Robertson-Marriott for Labour, Daniel Soan for the Conservatives and Carl Squires for the Liberal Democrats.

Polling stations will be set up at Collingtree Golf Club, Abbey Centre Baptist Church and Blacky More Community Centre.

There will also be a mobile unit at Ladybridge Drive in West Hunsbury.

People living in the ward, which includes Shelfleys, Merefield and Blacky More, who are not registered to vote have until 23 January to do so, and postal vote application have to be made before 5pm on 24 January.

Under new legislation, people who vote in person on election day will have to show some form of photo ID.