THE local elections are just around the corner...and now a list of the candidates standing in each ward has been published by Thurrock Council.

Residents will go to the polls to pick their preferred candidate on Thursday, May 22.

Below is a list of the candidates standing in each ward holding an election this year.

In Chafford and North Stifford, Corringham and Fobbing, East Tilbury, and Stanford-le-Hope West, there will be no local election this year.

Euro elections will also be held on May 22. The Thurrock Gazette will be publishing details of those candidates in the near future.

The council is urging all residents to register to vote by Tuesday, May 6. If you are not registered to vote, click here to be taken to the council's website where full details are available.

To find your nearest polling station, click here.

The 2014 Thurrock Council election:

* - candidates currently sitting as councillors.

AVELEY AND UPLANDS

John Holloway (Labour)

John Livermore (Liberal Democrat)

Maggie O’Keefe-Ray (United Kingdom Independence Party)

Teresa Webster (Conservative)

BELHUS

Chris Baker (UKIP)

Paul Burton (LD)

Gary Collins (Con)

Wendy Curtis (Lab)*

CHADWELL ST MARY

Steven Cole (Con)

Barbara Rice (Lab)*

Tracy Rowe (LD)

Kevin Wheeler (UKIP)

GRAYS RIVERSIDE

Scott Benton (Con)

Martin Kerin (Lab)

Kevin Mulroue (LD)

Michael Wager (UKIP)

GRAYS THURROCK

Ebube Akueme (LD)

Thomas Davis (National Front)

John Legg (UKIP)

Michelle Macadangdang (Con)

Michael Stone (Lab)*

LITTLE THURROCK BLACKSHOTS

Claire Jones (LD)

Ben Maney (Con)*

Leo Milan-Vega (Lab)

Peter Smith (UKIP)

LITTLE THURROCK RECTORY

Natalie Butcher (LD)

Rob Gledhill (Con)

Ella Vine (Lab)

Victoria Woodman (UKIP)

OCKENDON

Jan Baker (UKIP)

Terry Brookes (Lab)

Lynn Carr (Con)*

James Lepine (LD)

ORSETT

Clive Broad (UKIP)

Roisin Hewitt (Lab)

Brian Little (Con)

Matthew Orbell (LD)

SOUTH CHAFFORD

Felton Flavius (Lab)

Tunde Ojetola (Con)*

Rex Ovire (LD)

Torren Snell (UKIP)

STANFORD EAST & CORRINGHAM TOWN

Phil Anderson (Con)*

Linda Hall (Lab)

Roy Jones (UKIP)

STIFFORD CLAYS

Angie Gaywood (Lab)*

Abbie Maguire (Con)

Graham Snell (UKIP)

Scott Stammers (LD)

THE HOMESTEADS

James Halden (Con)*

Peter Prendergast (UKIP)

Jennifer Smith (Lab)

TILBURY RIVERSIDE & THURROCK PARK

Mick Griffin (NF)

Keith Hatcher (Con)

Richard Newbold (UKIP)

Bukky Okunade (Lab)*

Luke Tyson (LD)

TILBURY ST CHADS

Angela Bolesworth (Con)

Steve Liddiard (Lab)*

James Mower (UKIP)

David Shirley (LD)

WEST THURROCK & SOUTH STIFFORD

Maurice Kelley (UKIP)

Matthew Parker (LD)

John Rowles (Con)

Andy Smith (Lab)*