THE gloves are off in Warrington as the borough gets ready for the General Election on May 5.

Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed the dissolution of parliament this week leaving voters with four weeks of election campaigning.

In Warrington South, Helen Southworth defends a 7,397 majority for Labour.

Mrs Southworth was elected to the seat in 1997 and was returned with a 49.3 per cent of the vote in 2001. She is currently a parliamentary private secretary in the commons.

She will be challenged by Conservative councillor for Penketh Fiona Bruce who won her right to stand in a US-style primary election in 2003.

The Tories were the second party in the seat back in 2001 when they won 33 per cent of the vote.

Meanwhile current Lib Dem leader on Warrington Borough Council, Clr Ian Marks will fight the seat for the Liberal Democrats.

They won 16.3 per cent of the votes cast in 2001 but have made up significant ground on Labour in the council elections.

In Warrington North, Helen Jones will be defending a 15,156 majority.

Mrs Jones first won the seat in 1997, like Mrs Southworth, and won 61.7 per cent of the 2001 votes. She is known as a campaigning backbencher.

Conservative Andrew Ferryman, an urban regeneration manager from Congleton, will contest the seat for the Conservatives.

They picked up 8,870 votes and 22.8 per cent share of the vote in 2001.

While top Lib Dem councillor Peter Walker fights the seat after his party won 13.4 per cent of the 2001 poll.

Any other candidates need to be confirmed by April 19.

l In the run up to the vote, the Warrington Guardian is giving readers the chance to ask their burning questions.

Questions need to be submitted by April 14. Either write to:

Gareth Dunning

News editor

The Academy

138 Bridge Street

Warrington

WA1 2RU,

or e-mail editor@guardiangrp.co.uk

or you can visit our website at: warringtonguardian.co.uk