SIX candidates have so far thrown their hats into the ring for the Salisbury general election contest on May 5.

The same day will also see Wiltshire county council elections throughout the area and two Salisbury district council by-elections - at Bemerton and Durrington.

In the general election fight, Tory MP for Salisbury for the past 22 years Robert Key will be defending an 8,703 majority.

Opposing him will be Liberal Democrat Richard Denton-White, Labour's Clare Moody, Frances Howard for the United Kingdom Independence Party, Green Party candidate Hamish Soutar and Independent John Holme.

And with nominations not closing until 4pm next Tuesday, there is still time for late runners to join the fray.

At the 2001 general election, there was a voter turn-out in Salisbury and district of 65.31 per cent, with the Conservatives garnering 46.6 per cent of the vote, the Liberal Democrats 30.1 per cent and Labour 17.5 per cent.

Between now and April 28 - the last Thursday before polling day - the Journal will be giving candidates the chance to make weekly statements on the points they want to get over to the electorate.

We start today with a statement from each of the six who have so far declared their intention to stand.