LABOUR campaigners were out in force in Wordsley on Tuesday and were supported in their door-knocking exploits by the party’s shadow local government minister.

Steve Reed MP lent a hand to ward candidate Kevin Billingham and his team as they made a last attempt to spread the word of the party before tomorrow’s local election.

The MP for Croydon North has been travelling across the country to show his support to local Labour candidates and he said: “I am here to support Kevin Billingham as he bids to be elected onto Dudley Council this Thursday.

“I am getting out and about and knocking on people’s doors to hear their concerns, what they care about and what they want from their councillors.

“Getting out and knocking on doors is the bedrock of our party, and the best way our councillors and candidates discover the real issues which affect the heart of communities.”

Mr Billingham had previously devoted 38 years to the Conservative Party before defecting in 2014 and was at one time chairman of the party’s Dudley South branch.

He said: “I have always been involved in local government and have probably knocked on more doors than anyone else in Dudley Council, so I know what local people want from their councillors.

“During the past few weeks while I have been out around the ward I have racked up more than 100 pieces of casework and heard countless issues that people have.

“I will be looking at continuing that if I get elected, as well as holding regular surgeries, as being retired I can make sure I am a full-time councillor for the people of Wordsley.”

However, UKIP’s Wordsley candidate Kerry Lewis, who is a co-ordinator of Wordsley Street Watch and runs the local neighbourhood watch scheme, said over the years she has been working hard to improve Wordsley and she hopes her track record will see her victorious at the ballot box.

She said: “It’s frustrating to see the other parties start to become active just before an election.

“I would like the opportunity to represent people where I live and run my small business.

“I joined UKIP because they select local candidates who genuinely work hard outside of the election period. I hope people give me the chance to make Wordsley even better.”

Meanwhile the Conservatives and candidate Kamran Razzaq are going for another victory in the ward after Tory Matt Rogers won by nearly a thousand votes at last year’s local election.

Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Conservatives, said: “Wordsley is a key seat – it’s one of 11 target seats we need to win outright to gain control of the council. We got a good response last year and will be campaigning until it’s physically impossible for people to go to the polling stations.

“We’ll be fighting for every vote.”

Catherine Maguire has been put forward once again by the Green Party to battle it out for the ward, where she polled 161 votes last time round.

During his visit to Wordsley on Tuesday, Mr Reed said he was unsure how the vote would turn out in Dudley borough on Friday morning.

He added: “If I could predict that, I would have put a bet on Leicester City to win the Premier League!”