FIFTY-NINE candidates will battle for the 28 seats up for grabs at this week’s elections to South Ayrshire Council.

The lengthiest ballot paper in the area when voters go to the polls on Thursday, May 5 will be in Ayr West, where nine people are contesting the four seats available.

In Maybole, North Carrick and Colyton, and also in nearby Kyle, by contrast, there are six people fighting for three seats.

The council’s current Provost, Labour’s Helen Moonie, is one of six serving councillors not standing for re-election: the others are Peter Convery (Conservative, Troon); Margaret Toner (Conservative, Prestwick); Douglas Campbell (SNP, Ayr North); Andy Campbell (Labour, Kyle) and Ian Fitzsimmons (Conservative, Girvan and South Carrick).

Across the council area the Conservatives have the most candidates, with 19, while there are 13 SNP candidates, 10 independents, and eight from Labour.

The field is completed by six Liberal Democrats, four from the pro-independence Alba Party, and a single candidate from the Scottish Family Party.

The full list of people standing in each ward and the party they will represent on election day on May 5, is as follows.

Troon (4 councillors to be elected); Kenneth Bell (Conservative); Judith Godden (Liberal Democrat); Rose Hall (Conservative); Linda Lunan (Independent); Craig Mackay (SNP); Annie McIndoe (SNP); Bob Pollock (Conservative); Philip Saxton (Labour).

Prestwick (4 councillors): John Caddis (Alba); Ian Cochrane (SNP); Hugh Hunter (Independent); Martin Kilbride (Conservative); Owen North (Conservative); Cameron Ramsay (Labour); Norrie Smith (SNP); Derek Stillie (Conservative).

Ayr North (4 councillors): Laura Brennan-Whitefield (SNP); Ian Cavana (Labour); Ian Davis (Conservative); Mark Dixon (SNP); Mason Graham (Liberal Democrat); David Paterson (Conservative); Andrew Russell (Independent); Denise Sommerville (Alba).

Ayr East (3 councillors): Chic Brodie (Independent); Andrew Bryden (Independent); Chris Cullen (SNP); Ian Douglas (SNP); Deirdre Kennedy (Liberal Democrat); Mary Kilpatrick (Conservative); Alan Lamont (Conservative); Brian McGinley (Labour); David Ramsay (Independent).

Ayr West (4 councillors): Gordon Bryce (Scottish Family Party); Martin Dowey (Conservative); John Duncan (Labour); Lee Lyons (Conservative); Derek McCabe (Conservative); Jamie Ross (Liberal Democrat); Bob Shields (Independent); George Weir (SNP); Margaret Weir (SNP).

Kyle (3 councillors): John Aitken (Liberal Democrat); Geoff Bush (Alba); Julie Dettbarn (SNP); Stephen Ferry (Conservative); Arthur Spurling (Conservative); Duncan Townson (Labour).

Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton (3 councillors); Iain Campbell (Conservative); Brian Connolly (Independent); William Grant (SNP); Laura McEwan (Conservative); Stephen Ralph (Liberal Democrat); Nicola Saxton (Labour).

Girvan and South Carrick (3 councillors): Alec Clark (Independent); Aaron Gilpin (Labour); Peter Henderson (SNP); Linda Kane (Conservative); Todor Radic (Independent); Gavin Scott (Conservative); Eileen Spence (Alba).

Polling stations will be between 7am and 10pm on May 5.

If you are not sure where to cast your vote, you can find out by visiting: https://my.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/polling-place.

All polling stations are fully accessible. The staff are trained and have access to equipment to assist disabled electors to vote in secret or with the assistance of polling station staff.

Disabled electors may also bring a companion to assist them to vote at a polling station.

For blind or visually impaired voters, tactile voting templates and large print versions of ballot papers are available at all polling places.

You can take a companion with you (close relative or elector qualified to vote) to assist you, or ask staff at the polling place for help.

Ballot papers cannot be printed in languages other than English.

However, there will be guidance notices available in other languages in the polling place.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555 for further information.