THE battle lines have been drawn for Worcester's election contest - with seven would-be MPs and 54 council candidates vying to get elected.

Worcester City Council has released its long-awaited list of election hopefuls for polling day on Thursday, May 7 - signalling a month of intense canvassing.

For the first time ever the Conservatives, Labour, UK Independence Party and Greens are all fielding a full sheet of names across all 11 city council wards being contested, meaning the 'big four' have a total of 44 candidates.

To see the full list of city council candidates, click here to open the PDF.

In contrast the city's Liberal Democrats are contesting just two areas, with activist Melanie Allcott trying to hold Claines and branch chairman Mike Mullins standing in Bedwardine.  

The city council is currently Conservative-led, with the party not having an overall majority but in control of 17 of the 35 seats.

It made a shock return to power last year following 12 months of Labour rule, after Mayor of Worcester Councillor Alan Amos became an independent.

Tory Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said: "We've got a clear plan and a track record of delivery, we're ambitious about Worcester and if we're re-elected can work on our Corporate Plan straightaway.

"It's been less than a year since the last set of elections and since then we've frozen council tax, cut parking charges, put the new swimming pool back on track and dealt with those quality of life issues like keeping the city tidy."

The Labour group, which has 15 seats as the main opposition, says it wants to wrestle back control.

Labour Councillor Paul Denham said: "Worcester has been coasting under the Conservatives, we know congestion is one of the major issues but they've done nothing about solving that problem.

"We have serious ambitions to make Worcester a better place to live, visit and do business."

The Lib Dems say they have decided to concentrate on keeping Claines, where veteran Councillor Liz Smith is stepping down after more than 20 years service, and competing in Bedwardine.

Councillor Sue Askin, who has a Lib Dem seat at County Hall and is helping organise the Worcester campaign, said: "The aim is to retain Claines and if we get support in Bedwardine, great."

The Green Party is hoping to add to its one St Stephen seat held by Councillor Neil Laurenson and get at least one or two more councillors.

Worcester's Green Party parliamentary candidate Louis Stephen said: "We're aiming to build on what we've achieved already."

UKIP is hopeful of a city council breakthrough for the first time, with James Goad, the party's would-be MP for Worcester, saying he wants "one or two" council seats every year to 2020.

The final list of would-be MPs contesting Worcester as expected is: Tory Robin Walker, Labour's Joy Squires, Lib Dem Federica Smith, UKIP's James Goad, Green Louis Stephen, independent Mark Shuker and Peter McNally, of the Trade Unionists and Socialists Coalition.

To see the list in a PDF, click here.

WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL WARDS UP FOR GRABS

(One seat in each ward)

Arboretum

Bedwardine

Cathedral

Claines

Nunnery

St Clement

St John's

St Peter's

St Stephen

Warndon Parish North

Warndon Parish South