THE BNP is set to try and win a place on Southend Borough Council for the second time this year.

Five candidates - including one member of the British National Party - will be standing in the Shoeburyness ward by-election to be held on Thursday, September 20.

The by-election has come about following the death of the sitting Conservative member and former mayor, Allan Cole, following a short illness.

The BNP candidate Alistair Lewis will be hoping for better luck second time around. He unsuccesfully tried to take the town's Victoria ward seat back in May's election.

At present there are no BNP councillors on the 51 member council, which has a Conservative majority of 29.

Candidates from the three main political parties as well as an independent will also be contesting the Shoebury seat.

Former chairman of the Shoebury Residents' Association Mike Assenheim will be bidding to become the fifth sitting Independent member of the council.

He is currently the chairman of the Coalition of Borough Residents' Association which takes in groups from across the town.

Ann Chalk, who stood unsuccessfully in the ward in May will again be standing for Labour.

Mrs Chalk has been vigorous in opposing plans for commuter car parking in part of East Beach and has organised a public meeting for tonight on the issue.

The Lib Dem are putting forward Jane Dresner, who was also an unsuccessful candidate in Shoebury at May's elections.

She is the daughter of Jim Clinkscales, deputy leader of the Lib Dem group and hopes to make the first father and daughter team on the council.

Graham Hill will be standing for the Tories, having been active in the area for some time and involved with the Beach Hut Owners' Association. He was due to fight the seat next May when Mr Cole intended to retire.