THE May 3 poll in the Wear Valley District could be a close call, with both Labour and Liberal Democrats scenting victory.

Whatever happens, there will be familiar faces missing on both sides, including two old adversaries - ex-group leaders Olive Brown (Labour) and Liberal Democrats Chris Foote-Wood.

Mrs Brown is bowing out of public life after 37 years as a councillor and Mr Foote Wood, who started three years earlier, is taking a back seat to concentrate on a writing career.

Councillor Foote-Wood, who is chairman of his party's Bishop Auckland branch, is bullish about its chances which, he claims, are better than in the last win in 1991.

He said: "We are in a completely different situation now. Back then, we won against the national trend and Wear Valley was the only council in the whole country that Labour lost.

"Today, we have a situation where Labour, nationally, is very much on the decline and we are more than holding our own.

"I am very pleased with our candidates. We have a very dynamic team."

But he slammed the Conservatives for standing in some seats, claiming they could divide any anti-Labour vote.

He said: "They abandoned Wear Valley for the past 20 years, so what are they doing?

"Everybody in Wear Valley knows it is either Labour or Liberal Democrat. They could help Labour stay in control."

Councillor Geoff Mowbray, Labour's agent in Bishop Auckland, said: "I have every confidence that we will win.

"We have achieved a great deal for Wear Valley over the past few years and there are plans to do even more, particularly in Bishop Auckland, where we have a big regeneration scheme coming along.

"One thing we must do is get a town council in Crook and we have offered to work with the Crook Partnership to bring this about."

Conservative spokesman Jim Tague said: "We have a legitimate right to stand. We have some enthusiastic candidates, including some as young as 18 and 19, and we will fight a positive campaign."