ADVERTISER, APRIL 11: In our series leading up to the election, we look at the North Swindon area and its candidates.

The battleground is growing and changing but has it changed enough to alter its political colour?

IN 23 days North Swindon's 73,636 voters will decide who they want to represent them in Westminster.

In the last two elections, since the seat was created in 1997 because of Swindon's growth, they have chosen Labour's Michael Wills.

But the area is constantly growing and changing and the Conservatives claim they have a real chance of winning the seat this time round.

The constituency includes the affluent Highworth, Blunsdon and Abbey Meads, shown in our main picture, areas which boast high employment levels and consistently elect Conservative councillors in local elections.

But safe Labour ground is found in the less well-off council wards of Penhill, which has the highest unemployment rate in Swindon, as well as in Gorse Hill and Pinehurst and Western where the Tories make few inroads into the solid Labour vote.

However, the Conservatives have made gains in council elections of recent years in wards including Covingham and Nythe and St Philips areas which are likely to see both main parties battling hard for in this election campaign.

The Liberal Democrats rarely challenge in local council elections in North Swindon and came a distant third in the 2001 General Election.

But the party will be hoping to win over disillusioned Labour voters this time round.

That will also be the aim of Socialist Unity candidate Andy Newman.

The secretary of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition will highlight Michael Wills' decision to support the war in Iraq as he campaigns.

Robin Tingey will be hoping to better UKIP's performance in the 2001 poll when the party picked up just 800 votes.

Anti-social behaviour is a problem in several parts of North Swindon and the constituency also takes in Crick-lade, where residents' desire for a bypass is an issue candidates will have to contend with. The older populations of Blunsdon and Highworth mean pensions and development are important issues there.

But in Abbey Meads, which is dominated by younger people, new facilities for children and education particularly the problems with primary school places are much more important.

Nominations for election candidates must be in by April 19.

Isabel Field