The Tories and Labour are to lock horns once again next month in Wisbech as they contest the Waterlees Village ward by-election.

Three candidates from each party will go head-to-head on August 31 following the sudden resignations of former councillors Alan Lay, Virginia Bucknor and Michael Bucknor.

Stepping up for the Conservatives – despite saying “we have already had enough elections this year” – are Andrew Lynn, Andy Maul and Laura Cobb.

Andrew was born and bred in the area and works as a foster carer, while Andy is the owner of town centre café, Bygones. He aims to “work with Wisbech Town Council to return the Market Place to glory, investing and growing what it offers to everybody.”

Laura, a teaching assistant at the Orchards School, is “keen to see more services for families and children, in particular the rebuilding and expansion of the skate park in the ward.”

Standing against them is Dean Reeves, Kathy Dougall and Amy Broad.

Dean is a civil servant and has worked in the prison service for over 20 years. He has previously volunteered as a parent governor at events in Wisbech and says his main promise is to listen to people in Waterless and ensure their concerns become his priorities.

Kathy, now retired, has experience volunteering as an adviser at Wisbech Citizen’s Advice Bureau and also worked with Age UK Cambridgeshire as an advocate for older people.

She says: “I now have time to devote to being as good as councillor as I can be and I am asking the residents of Waterlees to elect me so I can make Waterless, and Wisbech, as good as it can be.”

Ms Broad also has experience in voluntary work; spending time at Community House, the Oasis Community Centre and the Ferry Project.

She says she wants to “give residents a voice and hopes to restore community confidence in our great town.”

The ward’s previous councillors announced their resignations within a fortnight of one another, with the Bucknors stepping down following a row over reducing speed limits and Mr Lay vacating his role on his 80th birthday after becoming “fed up of back-stabbing politics”.

Nominations are still open and can be delivered in person to the returning office from July 27 to August 3. For more information, email elections@fenland.gov.uk.