People in Lakenham will head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new county councillor.

A by-election has been triggered following the resignation of Fiona Williamson, the Liberal Democrat councillor for the division, to pursue a research project in south-east Asia, as her contract as a history lecturer at the UEA was coming to an end.

The political makeup of the county council is currently: Conservative 62, Liberal Democrat 10, Green seven, Labour three, Ukip one.

The candidates hoping to change that figure for their party are Steve Emmens (UK Independence Party), David Fairbairn (Lib Dems), Mathew Morris (Conservative), Paul Neale (Green) and Sue Whitaker (Labour).

Hoping to retain the seat for the Lib Dems is Mr Fairbairn, who is already the city councillor for the division.

Green Party candidate Mr Neale, 56 was born and raised in Lakenham, went to The Hewett School and then City College Norwich.

He formerly stood for a county council seat with the Labour Party but left because of the Iraq war.

Labour candidate Mrs Whitaker, 61, is hoping to reclaim the Lakenham seat having served as county councillor for the division between 2001 and 2009.

UKIP candidate Mr Emmens, 46, unsuccessfully stood for the Norwich South parliamentary seat in 2010, while Tory candidate Mr Morris, 19, said: 'I will try to support front-line services in favour of more cuts to the back-room staff and will oppose the development of the cricket ground in Lakenham.'

Mr Emmens and Mr Fairbairn were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

For the result of tomorrow's Lakenham by-election, visit www.eveningnew24.co.uk and see Friday's Evening News.