Two more challengers to one of the country's most high-profile mayors have come forward.

Former councillor Stephen Allison and current councillor John Lauderdale will contest the election in Hartlepool in May.

The pair join long-serving councillor Stan Kaiser as challengers to Stuart Drummond for the £55,000-a-year job.

Former call centre worker Mr Drummond, 31, shocked the country when he won the contest to become the town's first directly-elected mayor in 2002.

He beat Labour favourite, businessman Leo Gillen, after campaigning dressed as H'Angus the monkey, the mascot of Hartlepool United, and promising free bananas to schoolchildren.

Mr Drummond's three-year term comes to an end this year, and opponents are jockeying for position.

Coun Kaiser, who has been on Hartlepool Borough Council for 35 years, was the first to announce his challenge as an independent.

Stephen Allison, who contested the Hartlepool by-election last autumn for the UK Independence Party, was this week adopted as the party's candidate for the mayoral poll.

And last night, Coun Lauderdale confirmed he will stand as an independent after pulling out of the race at the 11th hour three years ago.

Coun Lauderdale, 60, a partner in a long-established printing firm, has represented the Brinkburn and Burn Valley wards on the council since 1998 as a Liberal Democrat and an independent.

Mr Allison, 44, a management consultant and business advisor, is a former member of the Labour Party and acted as agent to Conservative candidate Gus Robinson in the 2001 general election in Hartlepool.

He won a seat on the council in the same year as an independent, and joined UKIP last year ahead of the by-election to replace Peter Mandelson - beating the Tories into third place.

Construction firm boss Mr Robinson has said he is considering standing, probably as an independent, while broadcaster and after-dinner speaker Alan Wright has said he is very likely to announce his candidature.

Mr Wright, a Labour Party member, said he is undecided whether to represent the party or also be an independent.

None of the three established parties have yet selected a candidate for the May 5 contest. Closing date for nominations is April 7.