VOTERS go to the polls today to decide who will fill the vacant Norton seat on Dudley Council.

A by-election in the ward was triggered by the sudden death of leading Conservative councillor Angus Adams in April.

The ward is regarded as a safe Conservative seat and despite a landslide for Labour which handed control of the council to the party during elections in May, anything other than a Tory victory today would be a major shock.

Conservative candidate Colin Elcock says if elected he will work to raise funds for improvements to Swan Pool Park and lobby for repairs to potholes in roads around the ward.

Labour's Adnan Rashid is among the challengers looking to cause an upset, if elected he has pledged to hold regular surgeries in Norton, campaign for more recycling services and tackle issues including anti-social behaviour and drug use.

The Lib Dems took a beating in the May elections but their candidate, Chris Bramall is reminding people of his links with Norton.

He said: "I was one of the three councillors for Norton ward for nine years from 1995 to 2004. As a councillor, I was instrumental in saving the Mere playing field and the Swan Pool Park play area, introducing a farmers' market to Stourbridge, and getting outside lighting at the entrances to the Broadway flats."

The full list of candidates for the Norton by-election is: Chris Bramall (Lib Dem), Colin Elcock (Conservative), Kevin Inman (National Front), Adnan Rashid (Labour), Benjamin Sweeny (Green) and Glen Wilson (UKIP).