More than 30 people have put their names forward for election to the new Keighley Town Council.

And more than half will take up their places automatically because nobody is standing against them in their wards. Two others have been rejected by Bradford Council, which is overseeing the poll, because their nominations did not meet election rules.

Bradford accepted 30 nominations for the election, to be held alongside the Bradford Council elections on May 2. There will be 30 seats on the council, spread among 15 wards, and just four seats will remain unfilled following the elections on May 2.

The councillors will sit for one year then new elections will be held to elect councillors for a normal four-term year.

Keighley Voice, which led a successful campaign to establish the town council, is fielding nine candidates on May 2.

Three - leading lights Brian Hudson and Anthony Wright, and anti-poverty campaigner Rose Thompson - will automatically gain a seat.

Also assured of a place are charity fundraiser David Samuels, transport buff Graham Mitchell, Braithwaite community leaders Mick Westerman and John Philip, and former Race Equality Council manager Zafar Ali.

Elections will have to be held in the Bogthorne and Exley, Bracken Bank and Ingrow, Riddlesden and Stockbridge, and Spring Gardens and Utley wards.

Martin Leathley, who spearheaded the Keighley Town Council campaign and resigns his Bradford Council seat this April, will fight for a seat in the Riddlesden ward.

Cllr Leathley is pleased that enough nominations were made for the elections to go ahead, but disappointed that nobody came forward from the Long Lee area.

He added: "I expect that when people have seen the town council in action for 12 months there will be more nominations next time and more competition."

Keighley Voice stalwart Brian Hudson agrees that the first year will be vital in showing what the town council is capable of.

He said: "When we can prove that this town council can work, more people will stand. The first year will put the nuts and bolts together."

Fellow home-rule campaigner David Samuels, who is standing as an independent, said the number of nominations was excellent.

He hopes Bradford Council will hand the town council the purse strings for services provided in Keighley, but fears obstruction from City Hall politicians.

election line-up

Bogthorne and Exley Head: Joyce Christine Newton, Valley View Close; David Petyt, Hanover Street (one seat).

Bracken Bank and Ingrow: Colin Foster, Ingrow Lane; Maureen Hudson, Bronte Drive, Oakworth; Robert John Payne, Alkincote Street; Kathrine Davinia Roberts, Elmwood Drive (three seats)

Riddlesden and Stockbridge: Walter George Edge, Kinara Close, Stockbridge; Robert Leonard Edward Horrell, Smithville, Riddlesden; Keith Jepson, Morton Lane, East Morton; Martin Antony Leathley, Dradishaw Road, Silsden (three seats).

Spring Gardens and Utley: Laurence William Brocklesby, Eelholme View Street, Beechcliffe; Burmanun Jagdish Gunputh, Woodville, Spring Gardens Lane; Mykola Lajszczuk, Raynham Crescent, Black Hill; Gerald Edwin Yates, Ferncliffe Drive (three seats).

Wards where elections do not need to be held because the number of candidates is the same or less than the number of seats:

Fell Lane and Westburn: Gordon Milner Earnshaw, 12 Prospect Crescent; Brian Hudson, Bronte Drive, Oakworth; Gerald Mortimer Newton, Valley View Close, Bogthorn.

Guardhouse: Michael Anthony Westerman, West Lane.

Highfield: Colin James Benzie, Redcliffe Street; Zafar Ali, Cark Road.

Lawkholme and Showfield: Javaid Akhtar, Sandywood Street; Amjad Ali Zaman, Sandywood Street.

Laycock and Braithwaite: John Rennie Philip, Shann Crescent, Blackhill.

Morton and Sandbeds: Oliver James Holdsworth, Street Lane, East Morton.

Oakworth: Michael Burningham, Low Bank Farm, Low Bank, Oakworth; Graham Mitchell, Dockroyd Lane, Oakworth; David Samuels, Station Road, Oxenhope.

Town: Zafar Iqbal, Spencer Street.

Woodhouse and Hainworth: Rose Anne Thompson, Delph House, Parkwood Rise; Anthony Wright, 38 Hainworth Lane.

No nominations were received for the Knowle Park and Long Lee and Parkwood wards.