The fight for Swindon is on a knife-edge. Council leader Mike Bawden needs just one extra seat for an overall Conservative majority. But after shrugging off the Tories in two by-elections in January, Labour are confident they can hold their ground. The Lib Dems must at the very least keep the two seats they are defending if they are serious about making progress.

The Swindon-wide issues on which Thursday's elections will turn are well-known council tax, development and improving the council are among them.

But most wards will also have local concerns specific to their area.

Below, ANDY TATE looks at four key battles, the results of which could hold the key to power for the winning party.

FRESHBROOK & GRANGE PARK

Lib Dem v Con

2003 results: Lib Dem 46%, Con 34%

2002 results: Lib Dem 40%, Con 34%

June 10 candidates

Lib Dem - Tracy Fisher

Con Peter Greenhalgh

Lab Sarah Bush

Proposals for a new football stadium on the site of the Shaw Community Forest loom large in the contest for Freshbrook and Grange Park.

Although the 22,000 all-seater stadium and sports complex would sit outside the ward's boundaries, many residents fear it would have a big impact on their quality of life, not to mention the value of their homes. All candidates oppose the development, and all parties have been out on the streets arguing they would be best placed to fight the plans.

Traffic calming is also an issue for the ward, with many residents unhappy about the speed humps in Gainsborough Way, which have turned the area around Freshbrook Primary School into something of a rat run.

And a pedestrian crossing to help residents enter and leave Freshbrook Village Centre safely would certainly go down well.

Freshbrook and Grange Park is a Lib Dem stronghold, but sitting councillor Judith Peppitt is standing down from the ward this year, leaving it within the grasp of the Tories if they have a good day on June 10.

ST PHILIP (UPPER STRATTON)

Lab v Con

2003 results

Lab 38%

Con 45%

2002 results: Lab 45%, Con 39%

June 10 candidates

Lab Teresa Page

Con Philip Sharp

Lib Dem Jose Tocha

Green Raymond Smith

The Labour candidate, Teresa Page, is the party's spokeswoman on transport and environment and deputy mayor-elect.

She is defending her seat against the advancing Conservatives, who broke through last year to take one of the ward's three seats.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have supported the use of anti-social behaviour laws to tackle the problem of unruly youths. And both would like to see a dispersal order used in the Meadowcroft area giving police the power to split up gangs of troublesome teenagers.

The ward's schools, which include the troubled secondary Headlands, are a key issue in St Philip, and both parties are calling for more investment.

Labour are fighting to reverse a change in school boundaries that has seen some houses transferred to a different catchment area.

And the Conservatives have accused Labour of pushing through high parish precepts, giving the ward's residents the highest level of council tax in the borough.

COVINGHAM & NYTHE

Lab v Con

2003 results: Lab 30%, Con 53%

2002 results: Lab 47%, Con 39%

June 10 candidates

Lab Patricia Spry

Con Dale Heenan

Lib Dem Ellen Aylett

The Covingham and Nythe seat up for grabs on Thursday has been held since 1992 by outgoing mayor Derek Benfield.

Without his high profile and popularity to depend on, Labour are counting on a relative unknown to hold off the advancing Conservative opposition.

Last year the Tories won a convincing victory to take one of Labour's three seats, and will be hoping to take another this time round.

But Labour is well established in the area and will be doing its best to get its vote out on the day to repel the blue army. The main issue for the ward was for a long time the hated speed humps in Covingham Drive.

The Conservatives were keen to rip them up promptly, while Labour wanted to see alternative traffic calming measures first. After much talking and stalling the humps were finally removed last month.

Many residents were also relieved to learn that a skateboard park planned for Nythe was to be built near the Oasis Leisure Centre instead. Thursday's result in Covingham and Nythe may well be a judgement on councillors' past performance as much as any promised plan of action for this quiet ward.

MOREDON

Lab v Con

2003 results: Lab 40%, Con 39%

2002 results: Lab 46%, Con 35%

June 10 candidates

Lab Jim D'Avila

Con Colin Lovell

Lib Dem Andrew Sharp

Soc Alt Jean Walker

Moredon is changing. The ward is no longer on the periphery of the town. New developments have overtaken the area and it is now becoming more urban with all the attendant problems and benefits.

Through-traffic is regarded as a growing problem, and many residents worry about anti-social behaviour in the Moredon Road area.

The proposals for the new football stadium in Shaw would have an impact on the ward, as Moredon Road would become the access route from the north.

Residents are more content with plans for a new Hreod Parkway Secondary and merged primary schools.

Labour's promise to save Lease Hill care home from closure may give it a boost of support from elderly residents in the ward.

But last year Labour clung to Moredon by just 28 votes, and the Conservatives are confident they can claim a Labour scalp this time.