Three by-elections are underway across south Essex today, with residents heading to polling stations in Southend, Basildon and Thurrock.

The by-election in the Milton Ward in Southend is being held after former ward councillor Julian Ware-Lane passed away at the beginning of the year.

While Independent councillors have said they will not stand for election in the ward as a tribute to the former Labour Party councillor, four other candidates are hoping to take the position.

They include Stephen Graham George who is standing for the Labour Party, Garry David Lowen, for the Conservative Party, Carol White for the Liberal Democrats and James Darron Quail for the far-right party, The For Britain Movement.

In Basildon two candidates will be looking to take control of the Vange ward, which was previously held by Labour Councillor Kayte Block, a lawyer by trade who announced her resignation in February after starting a new job as a prosecutor. Following her resignation, Labour Group leader Gavin Callaghan said he was “deeply disappointed” she was leaving.

The two candidates hoping to gain control of the Vange ward are Aidan McGurran for the Labour Group and Yetunde Juliet Oyebola Adeshile for the Conservatives.

A by-election is being held in the Aveley and Uplands ward in Thurrock, with candidates looking to replace Independent councillor Tim Aker, who is also a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Mr Aker’s departure has been controversial in the borough with some rival councillors recently implying he was removed from his position by the council over his lack of attendance to meetings.

The leader of the council, Rob Gledhill, has also confirmed that he recently reported concerns over a member’s attendance but could not comment on specific cases.

However, Mr Aker said he was standing down due to his role as a MEP and the “shambolic handling of Brexit” has forced him to spend all his time at the European Parliament. He has also moved out of the borough and said he does not believe he should continue in his role.

Looking to take Mr Aker’s position will be Charles John Curtis for Labour, David Van Day for the Conservatives, Alan Field for the Thurrock Independents and Tomas Pilvelis for the Liberal Democrats.

In all wards polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.

Milton ward, Southend polling stations: St. Johns Church, Church Road Salvation Army Hall, Clarence Road Booth 1, Room at Rear of Avenue Baptist Church, Milton Road Trinity Methodist Church, Argyll Road, Westcliff Booth 2, Room at Rear of Avenue Baptist Church, Milton Road St Marks Church Hall, Princes Street Vange ward, Basildon polling stations Trinity Methodist Church, 481 Clay Hill Road, Vange Greensted Infant School & Nursery, Kirby Road St Chad`s Church, Clay Hill Road Vange Community Hall, Vange Hill Drive, Vange Aveley and Uplands ward, Thurrock polling stations Aveley Methodist Church Hall, Shannon Way Aveley Public Hall, Purfleet Road The Sycamores, Dacre Avenue, Aveley Hugh Delargy Hall, Wood Avenue, Uplands Estate