THE battle lines have been drawn across the Bromsgrove district, with 74 candidates competiting for 31 seats on the district council.

Boundaries have been redrawn since 2011, increasing the number of wards from 23 to 30 but reducing the number of councillors from 39 to 30, with only Belbroughton and Romsley now having two seats.

The former Alvechurch ward has been split. In Alvechurch South, Conservative June Griffiths will be standing against Liz Irving for UKIP, while in Alvechurch Village, Fenella Brown, for the Green Party, faces UKIP candidate John Palethorpe, and Conservative Roger Smith.

Standing in Aston Fields, are Rory Shannon for Labour, Conservative Philip Thomas , and Marcus Draper from the Greens, while in the Avoncroft ward independent Jon Ellis stands against Labour's Masha Garibyan, and Conservative Malcolm Glass.

The new Barnt Green and Hopwood ward sees Conservative Mike Webb, go against independent candidate Charles Hotham.

Two-seat ward Belbroughton and Romsley sees Conservatives Margaret Sherrey and Christopher Allen-Jones stand against Labour's Jacky Smith, and independents Stan Francis and Alec Syrotiuk.

Another new ward is Bromsgrove Central that sees Conservative candidate Rita Dent standing against Labour’s Tom Stanley

Catshill has been separated into two new wards. Catshill North will be fought over by Conservative Helen Jones, Labour's Glenys Blackmoor and Julian Gray for the Green Party, while Catshill South will be contested between Labour's Bernard McEldowney and Conservative Shirley Webb.

In Charford, Anita Hill stands for UKIP, Mary Marsh represents the Conservatives, and Sean Shannon stands for Labour.

In the Cofton ward Labour'se Alan Cooper is against Conservative Richard Deeming and Green candidate Jill Harvey, while in

Drakes Cross Sue Baxter stands for the Wythall Residents Association against Conservative Roy Clarke.

Hagley is also been divided in two . Hagley East will be contested between independent candidate Rachel Jenkins and Conservative candidate Keith Grant-Pearce, while in Hagley West independent Steve Colella faces Conservative Ed Moore.

In Hill Top, Labour’s Luke Mallet is against Conservative Mark Hodder . Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Stephen Peters standings for the Wythall Residents Association against Conservative Mark Bullivant.

Liberal Democrat candidate Janet King competes against Conservative Kit Taylor in the Lickey Hills ward, while Lowes Hill sees Labour's Jeremy Bryan against Conservative Rod Laight.

Marlbrook ward has a three-way fight between Conservative Brian Cooper, Labour's Martin Knight and Peter Harvey from the Greens.

Another Green Party candidate, Michelle Baker, stands in Norton, against Conservative Pete Lammas, and Labour's Edward Murray.

In Perryfields Labour candidate Mick Ball competes against independent Brian Lewis and Conservative Karen May, while in Rock Hill Conservative Del Booth is against Liberal Democrat candidate Michael Mihailovic and Labour's Michael Thompson.

Rubery is another split into two wards. In Rubery North Tory Claire Jones is against Labour’s Peter McDonald, while in Rubery South Labour’s Christine McDonald faces Conservative Allan Venables.

Another new ward, Sanders Park, sees Labour's Margaret Buxton against Conservative Ted Tibby, while in Sidemoor Labour’s Chris Bloore is against Conservative Penny Power and UKIP's Adrian Smart.

Four candidates stand in Slideslow; Labour's Philip Baker, Liberal Democrat Joseph Hearn, the Green's Mark Smith, and Conservative Caroline Spencer.

In Tardebigge, Stan Baker stands for the Greens against Labour's Ros Cooke, UKIP's George Flynn and Conservative Peter Whittaker, while Wythall East sees Wythall Residents’ Association candidate Leslie Turner face Conservative Patricia Harrison.

In Wythall West, Conservative Geoff Denaro stands against Wythall Residents’ Association’s Helen Cleaver, Liberal Democrat Sandra Docker and UKIP's Barry Thornton.

The election is being held on May 7.