by Alan Smith

Electioneering is in full force as council candidates gear up to win your vote.

The polls will be open on May 5 to decide the makeup of the borough councils in Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling.

Maidstone will be one of the few boroughs in Kent where control of the council could conceivably change hands.

The Tories enter the fray in a strong position, holding 28 out of the total of 55 seats on the council. The Liberal Democrats would need to win six extra seats to become the majority party.

But if either the Independents or the Lib Dems made just one net gain from the Tories, the Lib Dems could still emerge in control with the support of the Independent members.

Unlike Maidstone, the result is in Tonbridge Wells is not so unpredictable.

The Conservatives will still be in control come May 6 regardless of the vote.

Even if they were to lose all of the 17 seats up for grabs, the Tories, who currently hold 41 of the councils 48 seats, would still emerge the majority party.

Both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells elects one third of its council at a time.

This is different in Tonbridge and Malling, where all 53 seats on the council are up for grabs with a total of 134 candidates competing for election.

Even though the Tories and the Liberal Democrats are in coalition together in the national government, the local parties are fighting each other in 21 of the 26 wards.

To see the full list of candidates for your borough click here.