Voters in two Norwich wards go to the polls today to have their say on who should represent them.

The Evening News brings you the nine candidates for Nelson and Crome, and the reasons they believe they should secure your votes.

The Nelson by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Green Party city councillor David Rogers in October, five months after he triumphed at May's election. The winner of the by-election will serve until 2016.

Jenny Lay stepped down as Crome ward councillor last month after revealing she is living with cancer for the second time.

Mrs Lay served the city as Sheriff in 1998 and Lord Mayor in 2011/12, and raised �20,000 for Big C last year through her civic role.

The winner in Crome will serve until 2014.

Nelson ward includes most of the area between Earlham Road and Unthank Road, with Dereham Road on its northern boundary and Christchurch Road to the west.

The polling stations open on Wednesday between 7am and 10pm are: St Thomas Parish Hall, in Earlham Road, the Trinity United Reformed Church Hall, in Unthank Road, and the United Reformed Church, in Jessop Road.

Crome ward includes the area from Plumstead Road to Salhouse Road, between Kett's Hill and Woodside Ride, plus streets south of Plumstead Road, up to the roundabout with St Williams Way.

The polling stations are: Pilling Park Community Centre, in Pilling Park Road; Fugill Green Sheltered Housing, in Fugill Green; Plumstead Road Branch Library; St Francis Church, in Rider Haggard Road; and Frere Road Community Centre.

The city council has 20 Labour councillors, 14 Green Party and three Lib Dems.

The count will take place tomorrow at City Hall.

Nelson ward candidates

Andrew Boswell (Green Party)

Andrew has lived in Nelson ward for 18 years, and is the county councillor for the area, with seven years' experience. He has influenced a number of policies to reduce the county council carbon emissions, including setting up a company to create solar and wind energy on council buildings and land.

He has also worked hard to promote sustainable transport in the city, create zero waste alternatives to incineration, and protect Norwich from large, unsustainable housing developments.

In the ward, he has successfully campaigned for better traffic safety outside schools, to keep Parkside special needs school open, and for new premises for a pre-school.

He was a member of the Norfolk Police Authority and is now part of the panel that scrutinises the recently elected police commissioner for Norfolk.

He is married with three grown-up children, and used to manage the scientific computing at UEA. His interests include walking in the country and canoeing.

Alexandra Davies (Conservative Party)

Alexandra is standing for election as she thinks she can give something back to Norwich, which she thinks is a fantastic place to live.

If elected she would focus on getting practical results for the people in Nelson, while standing up against waste and inefficiency at City Hall.

A student at the University of East Anglia, Alexandra is especially keen to work to help students better integrate into the community.

Layla Dickerson (Labour Party)

'I moved to Nelson ward eight years ago and fell in love with the area. Over the past few months I've been asking my neighbours what they love about this community too and found great support for independent shops and businesses.

'This is why I have supported the Unthank shopping bonus scheme to raise the profile of our fantastic local businesses while giving the customer a little bit extra.

'I am also a member of the Co-operative Party because I strongly support fair-trade, fighting against exploitation, and finding local solutions to the big issues such as climate change.

'If I am elected I promise to work hard to help bring more homes and jobs to the city and to ensure that Nelson ward residents are given an effective voice at Norwich City Council.'

Helen Whitworth (Liberal Democrat)

'I live in Belvoir Street in the Nelson ward and in my professional life I've worked as a healthcare support worker.

'I have also served as a district and county councillor, so I know how the local government system works and how to get things done.

'I've also spent much of my time in a voluntary capacity from running pre-school playgroups to being a school governor at two schools and then onto helping with community activities.

'Working with our MP Simon Wright, I'm fighting for a cleaner, greener city, while campaigning for fairer taxes and protecting our local public services.

'If elected to the council, I will work hard to make sure that local authorities are doing all they can to improve the health of its residents.

'Tackling air pollution in the Nelson ward must be a priority, helping to make Norwich a healthier city; one in which all people have a fairer chance to get on in life.'

Crome ward candidates

Glenn Tingle (UKIP)

Glenn, 49, is married, a former Army medic and a senior manager for a large civil engineering company.

He is a keen marathon runner and recently completed the Lisbon Marathon in December for the Prostate Cancer Charity. He says: 'I stand for severely limiting immigration into this country, which has had a major impact on all the communities in Norwich North, and believe that British citizens should always take priority over foreign nationals in every way, especially when it comes to benefits, employment, healthcare and housing. The doctors' surgeries are constantly overcrowded and housing is scarce in the Crome area because of the 'open door' policy this and previous governments have adopted.

Michael Sutton-Croft (Liberal Democrat)

'I live in Norwich and work in the environment sector and care deeply about environmental issues. For me, the Lib Dems are the only party able to effectively balance the environment with the needs of the people.

'My priorities are to push for further integration and co-operation between Norwich City Council services and other agencies, including the county council, police, NHS, and the community sector organisations.

'I believe you should keep more of the money you earn. Thanks to Simon Wright and the Lib Dems in government, thousands of hard-working families in Norwich have been lifted out of paying income tax – putting pounds back in people's pockets. As your candidate I want to give local communities more of a say over their area.'

Judith Ford (Green Party)

Judith is Norfolk born and bred, coming from a family which worked in agriculture. She trained as a doctor and worked in radiation oncology and palliative care in New Zealand, Cambridge and Los Angeles.

In 2006, she returned to her Norwich roots and has spent four years as a maths teacher.

She went to school in Norwich, travelling every day on the bus through what is now Crome ward. She still regularly visits family nearby and volunteers in her local community.

Judith joined the Green Party when she returned to Norwich as she was impressed by the way the party cares about people, the environment and the world that we will leave to future generations.

Marion Maxwell (Labour and Co-operative Party)

Labour and Co-operative Party candidate Marion said: 'I have lived in Norwich for 27 years and have always been involved in trying to keep it a safe and pleasant place to live.

'I have been a campaigner all of my life and locally have fought to keep streetlights on in the city centre; run a successful campaign against legal loan sharks, which has been picked up nationally; have campaigned against dangerous dogs; the attack on our NHS; and have been fighting to keep the Remploy factory open.

'As a councillor I will work for all residents, to help build a city which brings more homes, jobs and training, and which continues to build on its excellent environmental record.'

Eve Collishaw (Conservative Party)

Conservative candidate Eve was born and educated in Norwich and has run several business enterprises, as well as previously being a county and city councillor.

She was also Lord Mayor of Norwich, and is now retired so has the time to give to Crome, which is not far from where she lives in Constitution Hill.

After meeting many residents in Crome and finding out their issues, if elected, Eve will work to build a safer, quieter and cleaner community.

She will not support Labour's proposed council tax increases, and will be a hard-working, local councillor all-year round who will stand up for the residents of Crome.