VOTERS go to the polls over the next two weeks in by-elections to fill two vacant seats on Durham County Council.

There is a four-way fight for the single seat being contested for the Wingate ward, to replace long-serving councillor Robert ‘Leo’ Taylor, who died in December, aged 77.

Local man John Higgins defends the seat for Labour, against Liberal Democrat Edwin Simpson, Gareth Fry, of the For Britain Movement, and Stephen Miles, standing for The North-East Party.

Polling stations, at Wingate Community Centre and Gully House, will be open from 7am to 10pm, on Thursday.

The following Thursday, March 21, voters in the Esh and Witton Gilbert division will be electing a replacement for Mike McGaun, who resigned his seat last month.

Beverly Coult defends the seat for the Liberal Democrats against Labour’s Anne Bonner, Independent Ryan Drion and Conservative candidate Richard Lawrie.

Polling stations are in village halls in Witton Gilbert, Quebec and Satley, St Michael’s RC Primary, in Esh Village, the Miners’ Institute, in Langley Park, and the Royal Oak, in Cornsay Colliery.