VOTERS at Preston and Littlemoor, Weymouth will be going to the polls on January 11 to elect a new town councillor and Dorset Council member for the ward.

The by-elections come after the death of Cllr Tony Ferrari in November who served on both councils.

Whoever is elected will only serve until May when county-wide elections are being held.

Candidates from the three main parties are set to contest the Dorset Council Littlemoor and Preston seat – Steve Brown from the Labour Party; Simon Clifford, Liberal Democrats and Peter Dickenson who describes his political status as ‘Local Conservatives.”

The same Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates are also contesting the Weymouth Town Council Preston seat with Joanna Dickenson standing for the Local Conservatives.

Because of recent changes in the law voters will need to bring photo identification with them to polling stations. Those who do not have a suitable photo id can ask for a Voter Authority Certificate from Dorset Council.

Those who are not yet registered to vote in the area need to do so by midnight on Thursday December 21 with the deadline for postal and proxy vote applications needing to be received by the council before 5pm on Friday December 22.

On January 11, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.

Further information about the election can be seen on the Dorset Council website at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/councillors-committees-elections/elections-and-voting/forthcoming-elections-referenda-and-polls/forthcoming-elections-referenda-and-polls?p_l_back_url=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dforthcoming%2Belections