THE names of candidates standing for election to fill empty seats on Mid Devon District Council and Crediton Town Council following the death of Frank Letch MBE have been announced.

The trio vying to represent the Crediton Lawrence ward at the district council are Terence Joseph Edwards for the Labour Party, Andy Hankins for Reform UK, and Tim Stanford for the Liberal Democrats.

Mid Devon District Council is currently dominated by the Liberal Democrats, who have 34 councillors. The Conservatives and the Green Party have three apiece, and the Labour Party has none. There is one independent councillor.

The late Cllr Frank Letch, a Liberal Democrat, held his district council seat for 10 years. He was the chairman of the council at the time of his death.

Meanwhile, it will be a two-horse race for the vacancy on Crediton Town Council.

Cllr Letch became a town councillor in 2004 and was Mayor of Crediton for 13 years.

Tim Stanford is again the Liberal Democrats’ candidate, and Gary Stanley is standing as an independent.

Mr Stanford lost an election to fill another vacant seat on the town council in March to independent Vix Frisby.

People will go to the polls to vote for the candidates of their choice in both the district and town elections on Thursday, June 26.

Cllr Letch was also Crediton’s county councillor, having been elected to the role in 2021. He has been succeeded at county level by fellow Liberal Democrat Jim Cairney, who was elected in May.

Cllr Letch was awarded an MBE in the New Year's honours list in 2015 for his work and commitment to his local community.

In other election news, Lizzie Dalton has been automatically appointed to Sandford Parish Council as she was the only candidate who stood.