72631-35ADVERTISER, APRIL 13: In the last of three features on the area's constituencies, we turn to North Wiltshire and the candidates standing for election there.

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.

Isabel Field