Six candidates have been announced for the byelection in Herefordshire’s Credenhill ward later this month.

This follows the death in June of True Independents leader Coun Bob Matthews, who represented the area northwest of Hereford on the county council since 2011.

The six, alphabetically by surname, are:

  • Mike Crofts (Labour)
  • Brian Michael Evans (Reform UK)
  • Debbie Hobbs (Liberal Democrats)
  • Gareth Edward Johnston (Conservatives)
  • Mike Jones (Independent)
  • Charlie Taylor (Independent)

Mike Crofts is a former army captain who has set up and now runs a prison rehabilitation charity, 3Pillars Project.

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Debbie Hobbs is already a city councillor representing Kings Acre. She volunteers at the Herefordshire branch of the National Autistic Society and at Parent Carer Voice Herefordshire.

Deputy chair of North Herefordshire Conservative Association, Gareth Johnston ran Coun Matthews close in Credenhill at local elections in May last year, losing by 43 votes.

Mike Jones was previously a True Independents colleague of Coun Matthews on the council, but lost his Weobley seat last year to the Conservatives’ Nick Mason.

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Charlie Taylor also contested Credenhill in May last year, coming fourth.

All six candidates are recorded as living in the county. Candidate nominations closed on Friday August 30.

The election will be on Thursday September 26, between 7am and 10pm.

There will be three polling stations in use, Breinton village hall, Credenhill community hall and Stretton Sugwas village hall.