A DISGRUNTLED care home owner is to stand for election to his local council.

Barry Parvin, who is quitting Guisborough's Graceland Care Home in protest at a lack of Government funding, is bidding to become a member of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

He is one of four candidates vying to succeed the late Independent Councillor Bruce Mackenzie, who died last month, to represent the Westworth ward, in east Cleveland.

Mr Parvin is standing as an Independent, making his decision after meeting with Health Minister Stephen Ladyman when he concluded there would be no changes in Government funding until 2007 at the earliest.

He last year, announced the closure of the care home because of lack of funding for carers, but subsequently withdrew the closure threat.

Redcar and Cleveland Council yesterday announced there will be a by-election for the vacant seat in the Westworth ward on May 5, the same day as the General Election.

There are four candidates for the vacancy. They are: Denise Georgina Bunn (Labour), Michael George King (Conservative), Barry Michael Parvin (Independent), David Williams (East Cleveland Independent).

The polling stations, open from 7am to 10pm, are at Belmont Junior School, Margrove Park Village Hall and Boosbeck Community Centre.

The current state of the parties at the council, controlled by a three-group coalition of Lib Dems, Conservatives and East Cleveland and Eston Independents, is: Labour 22, Lib Dem 16, Conservative 13, East Cleveland Independent 3, Eston Independent 3, Marske Independent 1.