The battle lines have been drawn for two by-elections being held in Newton Aycliffe next week.

The vacancies on Sedgefield borough and Great Aycliffe town councils were created by the death of Councillor Alan Gray earlier this year.

Coun Gray's widow, Joan, has been selected as the official Labour Party candidate for the Woodham ward seat on the borough council, where she is opposed by independent Sandra Haigh.

Mrs Haigh is also standing for election to the town council, where her Labour Party opponent will be Ian Gray.

Voting for both seats will take place on Thursday, July 29. Here we print the election address of all three candidates.

Sandra Haigh says she is so fed up with the lack of facilities in Woodham that she is standing for the council and personally paying her own election costs.

If she is elected, Mrs Haigh, 57, intends to join the 2003 Alliance of Independent Councillors at the borough council offices in Spennymoor.

Victory at the by-election will leave the 2003 Alliance as the official opposition to Labour on the borough council.

Mrs Haigh is concerned at the lack of facilities in both the town centre and Woodham, saying: "The children have no play areas or football facilities in Woodham and have to play in the streets.

"As a parent and grandparent I find that unacceptable, especially as we pay one of the highest council taxes in the country."

Joan Gray has lived in Newton Aycliffe for 36 years, including 20 years living in Woodham. She is the widow of former Labour councillor Alan Gray, formerly leader of Great Aycliffe Town Council.

Although for many years Mrs Gray chose not to take an active role in politics, she has always been active in the community as a committee member of the Woodham Village Community Centre Association.

Mrs Gray said: "I believe that my knowledge of the local area and its residents, my years of service to the community, and my ongoing close teamwork with the local Labour councillors will equip me to be a good councillor for Woodham ward."

In 2001, Mrs Gray became a Labour councillor on Great Aycliffe Town Council, and sits on a number of committees.

Ian Gray is a laboratory worker in heavy industry who has lived and worked in South- West Durham all his life, moving to Newton Aycliffe two-and-a-half years ago.

He is a former works secretary for the Amicus trade union. He joined the Labour Party in 1997, after Tony Blair became Prime Minister, and has been an active branch member ever since.

He is the Aycliffe North Branch Labour Party observer on the town council, so is experienced in council affairs.

Mr Gray is an expert on the countryside and environment, and believes he would be an invaluable member of the town council's environment committee. He has been a Voluntary Countryside Ranger for 20 years and regularly undertakes conservation work.