Voters head to polls in Warnham and Rusper county council by-election today

The poll for the Warnham and Rusper ward was called after the death of long-time West Sussex county and Warnham parish councillor Mick Hodgson.

He died in August after a short battle with cancer.

Former leader of Horsham District Council and current district councillor for Rusper and Colgate Liz Kitchen is standing for the Conservatives, Geoff Stevens is representing the UK Independence Party, Tony Millson for the Liberal Democrats, Carol Hayton for Labour, and Darrin Green for the Green Party Stop Fracking Now.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm, and include Colgate Village Memorial Hall, Faygate Village Hall, Ifield West Community Centre, Rudgwick Hall, Rusper Village Hall, Slinfold Village Hall, and Warnham Village Hall.

Warnham parish is also holding an election for the vacant parish council position.

The two candidates are Michelle Baker and Roger Hodgson.

This May UKIP became the second-largest party in terms of councillors at WSCC, gaining several seats.

But despite a large swing in votes towards the party in the Horsham district, it did not unseat any Conservatives, with the Tories taking two Lib Dem divisions.

Earlier this month Philip Circus, chairman of HDC, triumphed for the Conservatives in a by-election for the Storrington division, warding off a strong challenge from UKIP.

The by-election was called after the death of Conservative Frank Wilkinson.

For the result see the County Times’ website on Friday (www.wscountytimes.co.uk) and for an interview with the winner see next Thursday’s County Times.