IN contrast to Swindon's two seats North Wiltshire is a mainly rural constituency.

It stretches from the western side of Swindon to the edge of the Cotswolds, with Chippenham, Malmesbury and Corsham among the main towns of the constituency.

On its eastern side it takes in Wootton Bassett, Purton, Lyneham and the Lydiards and it is in these areas that the expansion of Swindon is a concern.

With the possibility that the area around Swindon will have to find room for thousands of extra homes in the near future, many residents on the outskirts of Swindon are worried that the town will expand across precious green spaces and swallow up their communities.

In Wootton Bassett other issues which get residents hot under the collar include parking and possible development at Brynards Hill.

In Lyneham residents are concerned about the future of RAF Lyneham and its planned closure in 2012.

The Liberal Democrats are the nearest challengers to the Tories in North Wiltshire, with Labour trailing far behind in third place.

James Gray, who stands again this time, won the seat for the Conservatives in 1997 but with a much smaller share of the vote than the previous Conservative MP Richard Needham, who had won more than 55 per cent of the votes in 1992 with a high turnout of 81.7 per cent.

With Mr Gray's majority 3,475 in 1997 (43.8 per cent of the vote) the Lib Dems made North Wiltshire one of their key targets in 2001.

But Hugh Pym was unable to pick up extra votes for the Lib Dems and Mr Gray won again with an increased majority of 3,878.

This time the turnout had fallen, in line with a national downturn, to 66.6 per cent.

The Lib Dems are again targeting the seat, with candidate Paul Fox stressing that Labour cannot win as they try to pick up possible Labour voters, but Mr Gray is hoping his record will see voters return him to parliament.

Labour councillor David Nash will be trying to increase Labour's share of the vote while Neil Dowdney stands for the UK Independence Party for the second time and Philip Allnatt contests the election as an Independent.

Philip Allnatt, Independent, 55.

Widower with two grown up children, former computer systems analyst and teacher

NOT satisfied with being a town, district and county councillor, Philip Allnatt is now standing for parliament as well.

But the independent councillor was prompted to stand in the General Election by a local council issue.

"I am standing because I feel we can make huge savings in public expenditure if we have a single unitary authority for Wiltshire," he says. "I feel we have got to take it to parliament."

Coun Allnatt, who is a former Liberal Democrat, describes himself as naturally a Lib Dem but does not agree with the party's policies on key areas.

"I feel we need a more cohesive set of policies covering the needs of the nation rather than the party politics we get," he says.

Coun Allnatt currently lives in Chippenham but is moving to Wootton Bassett. He is also standing as an Independent in the Wiltshire County Council elections for Wootton Bassett South, also being held on May 5.

Neil Dowdney, UK Independence Party, 52. Divorced, no children, stockbroker

NEIL Dowdney says he wants to be with Europe but not of Europe.

So for the second time he is standing for UKIP in North Wiltshire.

Mr Dowdney, who had earlier been a Conservative, joined the party about seven years ago.

"I was concerned powers were being moved from Westminster to Brussels and that the European Union was not what we had voted to join," he says.

"I am a great supporter of Europe. I travel in Europe, I want to have common interests but I don't want to be ruled by Europe and I don't want to rule Europe.

"I want to be with them not of them.

"The coming election is a time for the voters of North Wiltshire to assert their independence and deliver a protest.

"If their voices have been ignored in Westminster, what hope for the affairs of North Wiltshire to be considered in Brussels?"

Paul Fox, Liberal Democrat, 40. Lives with his partner, no children, gives financial advice to colleges

PAUL Fox says he offers the real alternative in North Wiltshire.

And the time is right for that alternative to come to power, according to the Liberal Democrat county councillor.

"North Wiltshire is the 11th closest seat between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, and everyone knows that Labour cannot win here," he says.

"We have had eight years of James Gray as the Conservative MP and eight years of this Labour Government. It is time for a real alternative."

In the areas closest to Swindon, Coun Fox thinks the biggest issue is the expansion of the town. "People live in Wootton Bassett, the Lydiards and Purton because that is where they want to live," he says. "They didn't choose to live in Swindon itself and they don't want to live in a suburb of Swindon.

"We need an MP who will stand up against Swindon expansion into North Wiltshire."

James Gray, Conservative, 50. Married with three children, MP

JAMES Gray thinks voters have a clear choice at this election.

And that means voting either Labour or Conservative if they are taking the election seriously because the poll is about choosing a government as well as an MP.

"The campaign is about who is going to form the government of the UK," he says. "That is either Labour or the Conservatives.

"In other elections people have the luxury of flirting with minority parties but I think in this election they won't.

"There is also the issue of which individual will best serve the constituency. I like to think I have got a very good record of service to the people here."

That means Mr Gray, who has been MP since 1997, is not worried about disillusioned Labour voters turning to his main challengers, the Lib Dems.

"Only those who vote Labour or Conservative are taking the election seriously," he says.

David Nash, Labour, 39. Married with two children, management development trainer

THE leader of the Labour group on Swindon Council is stepping up to stand in the General Election, even though he knows he will not win.

David Nash took over as leader of the Labour group last June but is now looking to widen his political experience.

"Underlying everything I do as a politician is wanting to make a difference and I felt that it was an opportunity to try out making that difference on a bigger stage," he says.

"Swindon has been very good to me. It is just an opportunity to expand my horizons a little bit.

"Realistically the most I can expect to do is offer the people of North Wiltshire the choice and hopefully boost Labour's vote, showing them it is okay to vote Labour."

Coun Nash thinks key issues include how to spread prosperity from urban into rural areas, boosting rural enterprise and providing affordable housing.

Isabel Field