It's election time for Maidstone council with a third of the council's 55 seats being contested across the borough.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, May 2, in 18 wards in an election that could change the direction of the council.

At present, the Conservatives are the largest party, but the council leader Martin Cox is a Liberal Democrat having won the support of not just his own party but Labour and Independent members too.

The Conservatives are defending in nine of the 18 seats, the Lib Dems in seven and Independents in the other two.

However the Conservatives will be entering the battle in confident mood as the Lib Dems have failed to enter a candidate in North Ward after their sitting councillor Rob Field missed the deadline for submitting his paperwork. His mistake leaves the Tory candidate only Ukip, Green and Labour to beat.

The Conservatives are the only party to field a full slate of candidates. The Green Party, who currently hold no seats, have the second largest slate, with 15 candidates, beating the Lib Dems into third place. With only 13 candidates, the Lib Dems are automatically relinquishing their chances in five of the seats.

Labour is fielding 12 candidates; there are eight Independents and a resurgent Ukip is fielding six candidates.

Although Brexit is not an issue under the control of local authorities like Maidstone, the party will clearly be hoping to gain from public disquiet over the the failure of the main parties to implement the result of the Referendum after almost three years.

Shepway North is facing the most hotly contested battle, with seven candidates in the running, including two independents.

On the other hand, Leeds Ward will be a straight fight between only two candidates: Gill Fort for the Conservatives and Ian Stevens for Ukip.

Whatever happens on polling day, the council will look very different after May, as several major figures are not seeking re-election and so will definitely be missing from the council chamber.

They include Fran Wilson, a former council leader and former leader of the Lib Dems, who at the age of 76 has decided it is time to retire. Similarly Cllr Malcolm Greer, once a cabinet member for the Conservatives, is hanging up his boots after 16 years' service. Cllr Paulina Stockell is also not seeking re-election after 25 years' service. A loyal Conservative, she has nevertheless been prepared on occasion to vote contrary to her group's view.

Also missing from the Conservative line-up is Matt Boughton. Far younger than his retiring colleagues, he has nevertheless been a forceful voice for his party during his four years representing Fant. He is standing instead for a ward in Tonbridge and Malling.

Voters will need to have their wits about them when they enter the polling booth. In two wards there are candidates with the same surname: Jon Hicks (Ind) and Michael Hicks (Lib Dem) in Shepway North, and Richard Webb (Lib Dem) and Simon Webb (Con) in Coxheath and Hunton.

The candidates: those in bold type are existing councillors seeking re-election.

Allington Ward

Barry GINLEY (Cons)

Wendy HOLLANDS (Lab)

Ben KNOWLES (Green)

Cynthia ROBERTSON (Lib Dem)

Bearsted Ward

Ian CHITTENDEN (Lib Dem)

Colin CHUTER (Green)

Val SPRINGETT (Con)

Boxley Ward

Anne BRINDLE (Con)

Mark MCGIFFIN (Ukip)

Michael THOMPSON (Lib Dem)

(currently Conservative)

Coxheath and Hunton Ward

Richard COATES (Lab)

Richard WEBB (Lib Dem)

Simon WEBB (Con)

Detling and Thurnham Ward

Andrew COCKERSOLE (Lib Dem)

Nick DE WIGGONDENE-SHEPPARD (Con)

James SHALICE (Green)

Downswood and Otham Ward

Gary COOKE (Con)

Stuart JEFFERY (Green)

Gordon Newton (Ind)

Paul WOODING (Ind)

East Ward

Jo BURNS (Lab)

Harpit DOGRA (Con)

David NAGHI (Lib Dem)

Christopher TURNER (Green)

Fant Ward

Sue DELAMERE (Ind)

Graham JARVIS (Con)

Ian MCDONALD (Green)

David PICKETT (Lib Dem)

Margaret ROSE (Lab)

(currently Conservative)

Harrietsham and Lenham Ward

Susan PARR (Green)

Stephen ROGERS (Lab)

Chris ROOTS (Con)

Tom SAMS (Ind)

High Street Ward

Dinesh KHADKA (Lib Dem)

Kimmy MILHAM (Green)

Barbara NEILL (Lab)

Andi OKOYE (Con)

(currently Lib Dem)

Leeds Ward

Gill FORT(Con)

Ian STEVENS (Ukip)

Loose Ward

Richard ATKINS (Lab)

Donna GREENAN (Green)

Susan GRIGG (Lib Dem)

Bryan HILLMAN (Con)

Marden and Yalding Ward

Annabelle BLACKMORE (Con)

Mike SUMMERSGILL (Green)

Pamela WATTS (Ukip)

Dan WILKINSON (Lab)

June WINTON (Ind)

North Ward

Steve BAX (Ukip)

Steve CHEESEMAN (Green)

Maureen CLEATOR (Lab)

Robert EVES (Con)

(currently Lib Dem)

Shepway North Ward

Gary BUTLER (Ind)

Jon HICKS (Ind)

Michael HICKS (Lib Dem)

Stephen MUGGERIDGE (Green)

Richard NEILL (Lab)

Marion RING (Con)

Stephen YOUNG (Ukip)

South Ward

Brian CLARK (Lib Dem)

Patrick COATES (Lab)

Yolande KENWARD (Ind)

Les LETCHFORD (Con)

Simon MILHAM (Green)

Staplehurst Ward

Louise BRICE (Con)

Marlyn RANDALL (Lab)

Jeremy WATSON (Lib Dem)

Barry WATTS (Ukip)

John WRIGHT (Green)

Sutton Valence and Langley Ward

Derek EAGLE (Green)

Richard FRANCIS (Lib Dem)

Wendy YOUNG (Con)

(currently Conservative)