Voters are going to the polls today as a by-election takes place following the death of a councillor.

Four candidates have their names on the ballot paper for the vacant Minster Cliffs ward seat for Swale Borough Council.

It has been called following the death of Ken Ingleton on July 11.

He had represented the ward as a Conservative for 43 years.

The party have since selected Oliver Eakin as their hopeful to take the seat.

Mr Eakin was ousted during May’s borough elections after losing his Sheppey Central ward seat.

Meanwhile the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Labour Party have selected Ed Baldwin to fight for the position.

Mr Baldwin said earlier this summer he was “delighted to have this opportunity”.

The two other parties hoping to gain ground in the ward are Swale Independents and the Liberal Democrats.

They have chosen Peter MacDonald and Edward Currie respectively to be their candidates.

Swale council is currently formed of a rainbow coalition comprising Labour, Swale Independents and the Greens.

No party was able to gain a majority during this year’s elections in May.

Out of a possible 47 seats, Labour won 15 with the Tories a close second with 12 – now 11.

The Swale Independents currently have 12 seats after winning 11 in May.

They then gained another when Monique Bonney chose to represent the group instead of the Independent group she campaigned with.

Polling stations are at Abbey Hotel and St George’s Primary School in Minster.

Residents have until 10pm to vote.