A rash of resignations means voters in eight parts of Norfolk are heading to the polls for council by-elections.
The all-out Norfolk County Council elections, which had been due to take place today, Thursday May 1, were postponed for a year because of devolution and local government reorganisation.
However, by-elections will take place in Norwich, Thetford, Holt and Marshland North in west Norfolk after councillors stood down.
Norfolk County Council by-elections
There are three Norfolk County Council by-elections, with 16 candidates vying to become county councillors.
Four candidates are fighting to win the Thetford West division vacated by Labour's Terry Jermy, who stepped down from County Hall to pursue his role as South West Norfolk MP.
The candidates are David Bick (Reform UK), Terry Land (Labour), Ian Minto (Lib Dem) and Peter Wilkinson (Conservative).
In Marshland North, Julian Kirk, who triggered the by-election after he quit the Conservatives, became an independent, joined Reform UK and then resigned his seat, is standing for his new party.
He is vying for the division with Green Rob Archer, Conservative Richard Blunt, Labour's Matt Hannay, Lib Dem Alan Holmes and 18-year-old independent Michael Squire, who hopes to become the youngest county councillor.
In Norwich's Mancroft division, the Greens will hope Serene Shibli can retain the seat previously held by Jamie Osborn.
She is up against Reform UK's Karl Catchpole, Lib Dem Gordon Dean, Lorna Garner from the Homeland Party, Labour's Josh Horsefall and Conservative Edith Jones.
Norwich City Council by-elections
There are also three City Hall by-elections, triggered by the resignations of Labour's Dr Peter Prinsley (Bowthorpe), Green Jamie Osborn (Mancroft) and fellow Green Gillian Francis (Sewell).
The candidates in Bowthorpe are Sean Bennett (Lib Dem), Richard Lawes (Labour), Antony Little (Conservative), Tony Park (Green) and Nick Taylor (Reform UK).
In Sewell, voters can choose between Valerie Brind (Reform UK), His Excellency Freeman (Independent), Paul Guille (Labour), Simon Jones (Conservative), Jenny Knight (Green) and Marlowe North (Lib Dem).
The Mancroft candidates are Craig Barker (Reform UK), Gordon Dean (Lib Dem), George Heaney (Labour), Edith Jones (Conservative) and Ian Stutely (Green).
Thetford
Terry Jermy has also resigned from his Thetford Priory division on Breckland Council.
Jane James (Conservative), Doug Jefferson (Labour), Ian Minto (Lib Dems), Timothy Soar (Green) and Michael Westman (Reform UK) are battling to replace him.
Holt
The by-election in Holt was triggered by the resignation of Conservative Eric Vardy from his North Norfolk District Council seat.
Those hoping to step into his shoes are Fiona Hayward (Labour), Connor Rouse (Lib Dem), Simon Russell (Green), Alex Savva (Conservative) and Beverley Seaward (Reform UK).
The polls are open from 7am until 10pm. Some results will be given in the early hours of Friday, while others will follow later in the day.
Visit www.edp24.co.uk throughout Friday for the results and reactions.
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