THE British National Party aims to make its mark in Dudley when six candidates stand for town seats in next month's elections.

The candidates, which for the first time include three women and a husband and wife team will fight for places in Brockmoor and Pensnett, Castle and Priory, Gornal, Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood, St James's and Upper Gornal and Woodsetton.

Diane Sankey is up for election on Thursday May 1 as a BNP candidate in Castle and Priory, alongside Garry Butler (UKIP) Daryl Millward (Cons) Lorna Simpson (Lib Dem) and current councillor Margaret Aston (Lab).

Vicki Peace (BNP) will battle for the Gornal Ward with Michael Jones (Lib Dem) Philip Rowe (UKIP) this year's Mayor David Stanley (Cons) and Stuart Turner (Lab).

Former councillor Malcolm Davis (UKIP) who lost his seat in last year's vote, will be hoping to regain his place in St James's ward as he stands against Geoffrey Edge (Lab) Heather Inman (BNP) Ian Jones (Cons) Gurwinder Singh (Independent) and serving councillor Serena Craigie (Lib Dem).

Following the departure of Labour Councillor Rosemary Tomkinson, who recently revealed she will be retiring at the end of her term, Qadar Zada (Lab) will be hoping to step into her shoes. However also standing is Julian Mitchell, who last year came second as a BNP candidate. This year he is standing an Independent candidate, with Stephen Tracey representing BNP as well as Janice Porter (Lib Dem) and Susan Greenaway (Cons).

This year Sedgley residents are being asked to vote for two candidates following the resignation of Council Deputy Leader Charles Fraser Macnamara.

The candidates include Dudley and Netherton GP Dr Parshottam Dass Gupta, who is standing as a labour candidate along side Cicely Thomas (Lab). Also vying for places are serving Cllr Michael Evans (Cons) Geoffrey Perry (Cons) Dennis Partridge (UKIP) and Robert Dudley (UKIP).

Speaking about the BNP female candidates, Simon Darby, deputy leader, said: "Women are better than blokes, they have more backbone and are much better communicators.

"They have maternal instincts and I think are a very, very strong pull."

Your guide to the town's election candidates.

Brierley Hill ward: John Dyer (Lib Dem) Steven Ridley (Cons) Paul Southall (UKIP) Margaret Wilson (Lab).

Brockmoor and Pensnett ward: Susan Greenaway (Cons) Julian Mitchell (Independent) Janice Porter (Lib Dem) Stephen Tracey (BNP) Qadar Zada (Lab).

Castle and Priory ward: Margaret Aston (Lab) Garry Butler (UKIP) Daryl Millward (Cons) Diane Sankey (BNP) Lorna Simpson (Lib Dem).

Gornal ward: Michael Jones (Lib Dem) Vicki Peace (BNP) Philip Rowe (UKIP) David Stanley (Cons) Stuart Turner (Lab).

Netherton, Woodside and St Andrew's ward: John Davies (Cons) Tina Kalsi (Lib Dem) Amanda Mobberley (UKIP) Mahbubur Rahman (Lab).

Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood ward: Bryan Cotterill (Lab) Julian Griffiths (BNP) John White (Lib Dem) Helen Wimlett (UKIP) Michael Wood (Cons).

Sedgley ward: Robert Dudley (UKIP) Michael Evans (Cons) Parshottam Das Gupta (Lab) Dennis Partridge (UKIP) Geoffrey Perry (Cons) Cicely Thomas (Lab).

St James's ward: Serena Craigie (Lib Dem) Malcolm Davis (UKIP) Geoffrey Edge (Lab) Heather Inman (BNP) Ian Jones (Cons) Gurwinder Singh (Independent).

St Thomas's ward: Shaukat Ali (Lab) Tony Barnsley (Independent) Giovanna Faulkner (Lib Dem) Louis Redding (Cons) Philip Wimlett (UKIP).

Upper Gornal and Woodsetton ward: Adam Aston (Lab) Kevin Inman (BNP) Julian Ryder (Cons).