Ipswich voters head to the polls

By-election voters go to the polls on Thursday

Voters in Ipswich are going to the polls in the by-election prompted by the death of MP Jamie Cann.

Turnout could be affected in the town with a crucial football match, a Uefa cup tie against European giants Inter Milan, for the home team.

By-election candidates

David Cooper - Christian Peoples Alliance

Peter Leech - Socialist Alliance

Chris Mole - Labour

Tessa Munt - Lib Dem

John Ramirez - Legalise Cannabis Alliance

Anthony Slade - Green

Paul West - Tory

Nicholas Winskill - English Independence Party

Jonathan Wright - UKIP

Labour MP Mr Cann died from liver disease last month, after 10 days in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

For the past few weeks, politicians from all the competing parties have battled over his succession on the Suffolk town's streets.

But more attention has been paid to Ipswich Town's European clash, which kicks off just a couple of hours before the polls close.

The town has a strong football history, with its most famous hero the late Sir Alf Ramsey, manager of Ipswich and of England when the team won the world cup in 1966.

'Fun night'

Returning officer James Hare, an Ipswich Town season ticket holder, predicted: "It will be a fun night in Ipswich - we'll be on the front pages and the back pages."

Ipswich - 2001 general election result

Lab, Jamie Cann - 19,952

Tory, Edward Wild - 11,871

Lib Dem, Terence Gilbert - 5,904

UKIP, William Vinyard - 624

Soc All, Peter Leech - 305

Soc Lab, Shaun Gratton - 217

Lab majority 8,081 (21%)

Turnout 38,873 (57%)

The poll will see election officials break new ground for a parliamentary election count by using live computer images, club music and lasers to make the evening more lively.

Images of the town, including live links to each party's local headquarters, will be shown on a 60ft screen in Ipswich town hall.

At the June election, Mr Cann, MP for Ipswich since 1992, was returned with a majority of 8,081.

Suffolk County Council leader Chris Mole now takes on the Labour colours.

The Conservatives have Ipswich businessman Paul West as their candidate.

And the Liberal Democrat flag is flown by Tessa Munt, who lives in Sudbury, Suffolk and has worked for the Childline charity.