Queen's Park is another hotly contested ward, with Labour, the Greens and the Conservatives all in the running. Council leader Simon Burgess, former council leader Ken Bodfish and Delia Forester will hope their work across the city, as well as the introduction of weekly recycling and parking restrictions in Queen's Park, will be enough to return them to the council chamber.

But they face stiff opposition from the Greens and the Conservatives, who are both targeting the seats. Standing for the Tories is Nick Maskell, politics student Ariane Poulain and Gail Woodcock.

The Greens are also working the ward hard with three candidates - Paul Steedman, pianist Rachel Fryer and Ben Duncan. They hope their strong environmental message and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender manifesto will help make up the 500 votes separating the Greens from Labour.

This is not one of the Lib Dems' top targets but the party generally polls quite well and is fielding three candidates - Joe Blease, Graham Bucknall and Elizabeth Robinson.

Independent John Walshe is also standing.

The future of council housing and parking problems are two issues in the ward.