ELECTIONS are taking place at councils across the region tomorrow (Thursday, May 5) as well as for new Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) in each of the force areas.

Polls are being held in Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead, with a total of 111 council seats up for grabs spread across the five Labour-held authorities.

Of the 26 seats in Newcastle, 20 are currently held by the ruling Labour group, including that of council leader Nick Forbes.

One third of the seats on Sunderland City Council are available, with 107 candidates contesting 25 seats.

In Hartlepool a third of the borough councillor’s seats are up for election with a representative for each of the town’s wards to be decided at the polls.

A total of 11 seats are up for grabs and while the Labour group retains an overall majority of members on the local authority, its council leader, Christopher Akers-Belcher, is amongst the candidates fighting for re-election.

In North Yorkshire, elections will take place for seats in 16 Harrogate Borough Council wards, including Mashamshire, Claro, Kirkby Malzeard, Boroughbridge and Newby.

The council has had 35 Conservative, 15 Liberal Democrat, two Independent and two United Alliance members since elections last May.

Meanwhile, some parish council seats are also up for election including in Middleton St George, Hurworth and Neasham in Darlington.

Information on the candidates are vying to become the new PCC for the North Yorkshire, Durham, Cleveland and Northumbria Police forces can be found on The Northern Echo website at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/pccelections