The Conservatives are looking to cement control of Crawley Borough Council on May 3 after a dramatic victory last year.

In May 2006 the Tories gained power for the first time in 33 years, although a few months later Tory councillor Marcella Head defected to the Liberal Democrats, leaving no party with overall control.

Only a third of seats are up for grabs this year, and many predict a combination of national woes and the combination of particular councillors up for election this year will make it difficult for Labour to seize power.

The Lib Dems, who have three councillors, believe they will hold their seats and expect to take votes from both other parties.

Labour leader Brenda Smith is quietly confident her party can reclaim the council, and hopes to capitalise on issues including Conservative cuts to the budget, dirty streets and disquiet about plans to sell off the housing stock, which have now been dropped.

Bob Lanzer, the leader of the Conservative group, said he believed his party would re-establish its majority.

The future of council housing, crime and how the council budget is managed will all feature as key issues in the campaign.

The BNP are fielding four candidates.