Election battle underway

THE future of South Gloucestershire Council is up for grabs, as voters prepare to decide who should be in charge.

The council's ruling Conservatives are defending a majority of just five seats going in to the local elections on Thursday, May 4.

In the Frome Valley the Tories are defending two seats in Winterbourne in the face of challenges from the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Green Party, while in Frampton Cotterell the Lib Dems are defending three seats as they try to dislodge the Tories as the council's biggest party. And on Winterbourne Parish Council, a total of 19 candidates are standing in a single ward.

Election guide: Pages 6 to 9

Netball success

WINTERBOURNE Academy's netball teams won two finals and were runners up in a third as they took the West of England Netball Finals by storm.

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Simon's inspiration

A HEALTH worker who grew up in Coalpit Heath has written an inspirational book – dedicated to the older sister he never met.

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