VOTERS will go to the polls to fill a vacant seat on a council, following the death of a serving member.

The election will take place for one of the three Houghton ward seats, in Houghton-le-Spring, on Sunderland City Council, on Thursday, May 2.

It follows the death of councillor Kath Rolph, who served on the council from 2002.

She lost a fight against cancer in December, at the age of 59.

Unlike neighbouring Durham, where there is a full county council election on May 2, there was no scheduled election to the city council this year.

The council is elected by a system of thirds, with polls in three of every four years, but 2013 is the designated ‘fallow’ year.

Notice of the election to fill the ward vacancy will be published shortly, but the deadline for submissions of nominations from potential candidates will close at noon on Friday April 5.

The two other Houghton seats are split between Labour and Independent members.