VOTERS in Dudley will be heading for the polls next month for a by-election.

There are four candidates currently hitting the campaign trail in a bid to bag the St Thomas's ward seat, following the resignation of Glenis Simms in December last year.

Shaneila Mughal, who will be hoping to retain the seat for Labour on February 16, said: "I am honoured to have been selected as the Labour Party candidate to fight the forthcoming by-election."

The mother-of-three, who was born in Dudley and works for the NHS as a specialist biomedical scientist, said she would work hard with her Labour colleagues to "campaign for a fair deal for St Thomas’s" and added: “I want to see the regeneration of Cavendish House, which has gone undeveloped for far too long. I will also work hard to keep our streets free of litter and to stop fly tipping, which is blighting our streets."

Retired engineer Phil Wimlett is UKIP's candidate and has vowed to be "the person that leads from the front", if elected.

The grandfather-of-three, who has lived in the ward all his life, said: "I have worked as the UKIP representative for many years, helping the community with countless issues and I have attended all of the council community forums and PACT meetings.

"I am passionate that we need someone who wants to represent the residents and truly believes in St Thomas’s ward.

"I want to be the person that leads from the front, not afraid to work side-by-side with the community, it is time now that we had a councillor who has fresh ideas, to improve a ward that has been left to stagnate for so many years."

Conservative candidate Jonathan Elliott believes it is "time for a change" in St Thomas's - a ward he believes has been neglected in parts.

He said: "I have lived in Dudley for nearly four years now and I think that it’s a great town with a huge potential."

Mr Elliot has vowed to "put resident’s concerns first", wage a war on litter louts and fly-tippers and fight to reduce anti-social behaviour, speeding and drug issues by working with the police and local community groups.

He added: "I was brought up to help others and to take pride in appearance, and that’s what I’ll be doing for St Thomas’s if I’m elected. I want to bring people together and work collectively to make our community a safer, vibrant and better place for all local residents."

The final candidate is Francis Sheppard for the Green Party, who runs Saturday Books, the independent bookshop in Tower Street, Dudley.

Through the shop, he not only provides artists with workshop space but also puts on a variety of cultural events in the town.

Francis, who has also served as secretary on two Dudley tenants and residents associations over the years, said: "I'm really excited by the opportunity to represent the people of St Thomas's. I've watched for many years with sadness as the area has been neglected and the community left behind."

He continued: "I worked closely with the popular Green Party councillor Will Duckworth in Netherton, Woodside and St Andrews, and I was inspired by his dedication, and just how respected he was by local residents for his commitment and hard work.

"If elected, I promise to serve St Thomas's with everything I've got, in just the same way."

Residents have until January 31 to register to vote and can do so online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by calling 01384 814740.