CANDIDATES have been nominated to contest a by-election in the Consett South ward of Derwentside District Council.

The election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Dot Atherton, who left for health reasons.

Mrs Atherton has vowed to fight on in the high profile campaign to win recognition for former steelworkers suffering from throat cancer.

One of the four nominated candidates, John Manwaring, an Independent, came within 31 votes of taking the seat from Labour in 1999.

Also standing will be Labour's Bill Golightly, who lost his seat in the neighbouring Castleside ward in 1999, Independent Peter Anderson and John Lawson for the Conservatives