County election candidates soar

The number of candidates standing for this year's Suffolk County Council election has increased by 30% after a boundary review.

In 2001, 210 candidates stood for 80 divisions. This year 272 will be standing for the revised 75 divisions.

At the May election, all except one of the divisions will have new boundaries, many will have new names and some will be electing two county councillors.

Tower in St Edmundsbury is the most contested division, with 12 candidates.

Suffolk County Councillors manage a budget of about £800m each year and make decisions that affect the lives of more than 650,000 people in the county.