By-election candidates have set out the reasons they want to become a councillor in Rochester East.

The poll will be taking place for residents in the Medway Council ward on Thursday, December 16.

Bernard Hyde (Green Party):

"I am married with three children and eight grandchildren. I have lived in Rochester for 20 years and been an active member of the Medway Green Party for six years.

"The climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing us and as a ward councillor I would want to help Medway Council tackle climate change while assisting residents to access the many services the council works hard to deliver."

Brian Griffin (Conservative):

"I have lived in the ward for many years and this is where my family grew up.

"I served with Kent Police for more than 28 years. Some of my priorities would be to work closely with police and PCSOs to fight anti-social behaviour, demand better access to health care by liaising with local health centres and surgeries, improve cleanliness of the ward with more litter bins, alleyway inspections, and organised litter picks, as well as better access for public transport."

Lauren Edwards (Labour):

"I am standing because I live in Rochester East and am passionate about improving the local area.

"I work at the Bank of England as a financial regulator and was an elected trade union representative for 13 years.

"My priorities are to hold Medway Council to account, make our streets cleaner, protect green spaces, work with the police to fight crime and anti-social behaviour, tackle the shortage of GP appointments, and support local businesses and jobs, like those under threat from development at Chatham Docks."

Sarah Manuel (Liberal Democrats):

"I have lived in Rochester for 10 years but was raised in Sittingbourne, where my parents still live, attending Highsted School for Girls.

I have spent the past 20 years working in professional and regulatory bodies.

My priorities include improving the availability of recycling facilities across Medway, improving end-to-end traceability, increasing rubbish bins and street cleaning focussing on dog litter and reducing fly tipping, increasing affordable public transport, cycle routes and safe footpaths, increasing support for the vulnerable in Medway, particularly domestic abuse victims and the homeless, and improving access to mental health services."

For more information and details on how to vote, visit bit.ly/3kyAyli.

The election follows the death of Labour representative Nick Bowler, who died in October.

He was involevd in local politics for two decades and had represented Rochester East from 2003.