Labour has chosen former councillor Isaac Igwe as its candidate for the Strood South by-election.

The announcement was made the day before nominations closed. Mr Igwe represented the ward from 2011 until he lost his seat last year.

The by-election has been caused by the resignation of Ukip’s Catriona Brown-Reckless, wife of former Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless, after serving just over a year of her four-year term.

Mr Reckless, who lost his seat last year, was elected to the Welsh Assembly in May.

The Conservatives, who narrowly lost two of the three available council seats to Ukip last year, have nominated former Strood South ward councillor and mayor Josie Iles.

Mrs Iles, who represented the ward until he was beaten in last year's election, has lived in the area since 1986.

She worked for an investment and asset management company in London until 2009. She is now chairman of St Francis Pre-School Committee and treasurer for The Friends of Medway Archives.

The Green Party candidate is Steve Dyke, who has lived in Strood since 1966 and was educated at Elaine Primary and then Rochester Math School. He works in the insurance industry in London.

The Liberal Democrat candidate is 18-year-old Isabelle Cherry, a former student at Rochester Grammar School, who has lived in Medway all her life and is currently studying for A-levels at home. She is the vice-chairman of Liberal Youth England.

Ukip has chosen chef Karl Weller, 31, to fight for the seat. Mr Weller, a lifelong Strood resident went to Bligh infants and junior schools. He has lived in the ward for the past 18 years.

The by-election will be held on October 20, the same day as the Witney and Batley & Spen parliamentary by-elections following the resignation of David Cameron and the death of Jo Cox.