FOUR candidates will contest each of the two constituencies covering west Wiltshire at the general election on May 5.

Sitting Conservative MPs Andrew Murrison (Westbury) and Michael Ancram (Devizes) will be challenged by rivals from the same three political parties.

Fighting the Westbury constituency, which covers Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury, will be Phil Gibby (Labour), Duncan Hames (Liberal Democrats), and Lincoln Williams (UK Independence Party).

Sharon Charity (Labour), Fiona Hornby (Lib Dem) and Alan Wood (UKIP) are the candidates for the Devizes seat, which includes Melksham.

Dr Murrison is a doctor and married to Jenny, a physiotherapist. They live in the constituency with their five children who attend a local primary school.

Elected in 2001, Dr Murrison has been a shadow health minister since 2003.

He said: "Safeguarding local community hospitals and getting our direct train service back on track are important to me. Council tax, particularly for the elderly, must be cut dramatically.

"Congestion in Bradford-on-Avon and Westbury is unacceptable. As a parent I want fair funding for Wiltshire's schools. I'm definitely a Eurosceptic."

Phil Gibby joined the Labour Party in 1991 and works in the cultural sector, encouraging arts organisations and businesses to work together to build stronger communities. A member of the Amicus-MSF union, he is 35, married with three children and lives in Bristol.

He said: "I'll be giving Westbury voters a positive choice at this election," he said. "Under this Labour Government, the economy is strong, crime is falling, public services are miles better and we've taken bold steps to support working families and senior citizens.

"My message is simple - keep Britain moving forward."

Duncan Hames lives in Holt where he is the local Liberal Democrat district councillor. Formerly a senior consultant in the Bath office of accountancy firm Deloitte, he joined the South West's Regional Development Agency in 2003.

He is a local primary school governor and board member of Wiltshire Young Enterprise.

He said: "Quality public services, fairer taxes and pensions, and a clean environment, are at the heart of our manifesto. Our policies: 10,000 more police, free personal care, increased pensions, and scrapping tuition fees are funded by increasing income tax on incomes over £100,000."