COUNCILLORS in both the blue and red corners are gearing up for a Battle of the Titans in the borough council elections in May.Heavyweights from both the Conservative and Labour parties are up for election this year, including council leader Barry Coleman and Labour leader Trevor Wainwright.

COUNCILLORS in both the blue and red corners are gearing up for a Battle of the Titans in the borough council elections in May.

Heavyweights from both the Conservative and Labour parties are up for election this year, including council leader Barry Coleman and Labour leader Trevor Wainwright.

The Tories chose two new candidates to stand in the Bradwell South and Hopton, and Bradwell North wards: local businessman and Hopton Parish Council chairman Mike Butcher and local businessman Terry Hall.

Mr Butcher will stand in the vacant seat left by Tory Colin Hodds, who has left the borough council, and Mr Hall will fight it out against Labour's Trevor Wainwright for the Bradwell North seat.

Former borough councillor Patricia Page will once again contest the seat for Magdalen Ward for the Tories.

Conservative councillors Stephen Ames, George Jermany, Bert Collins, Charles Reynolds, Pat Cook, Barry Coleman and Paul Garrod will all contest their seats on May 1.

The Tories will also fight for Labour strongholds including Claydon, Central and Northgate, Nelson and the Southtown and Cobholm wards, with candidates yet to be announced.

Labour announced this week it will have a candidate standing in all seats with councillors Trevor Wainwright, Mike Taylor, Tony Blyth, Colleen Walker, Michael Jeal and Penny Linden fighting to retain their seats.

The party announced candidate Jenny Livingstone will go head-to-head with Charles Reynolds for Ormesby ward and Gary Fox will be up against Pat Cook for St Andrew's ward. Charlie Marsden will stand in Yarmouth North currently held by mayor Paul Garrod. Rex Tyrell will go up against Mike Butcher for the vacant seat in Bradwell South and Hopton.

Mr Wainwright confirmed this week that candidates to stand in the remaining wards were being sought.

The current make-up of the borough council is dominated by the Tories with 22 seats, Labour holds 16.

Seats up for election in May are as follows with the name of the councillor and party which currently holds the seat.

Bradwell North Ward

Trevor Wainwright (Labour)

Bradwell South and Hopton Ward

Stephen Ames (Conservative)

Central and Northgate Ward

Mike Taylor (Labour)

Claydon Ward

Tony Blyth (Labour)

East Flegg Ward

George Jermany (Conservative)

Gorleston Ward

Bert Collins (Conservative)

Magdalen Ward

Colleen Walker (Labour)

Nelson Ward

Michael Jeal (Labour)

Ormesby Ward

Charles Reynolds (Conservative)

St Andrews Ward

Patrick Cook (Conservative)

Southtown and Cobholm Ward

Penny Linden (Labour)

West Flegg Ward

Barry Coleman (Conservative)

Yarmouth North Ward

Paul Garrod (Conservative)