Voters go to the polls on Thursday in the first by-election since Bradford became a hung council last May.

The Bowling seat is vacant since Labour's Jean Ellison - respected by all political parties - died suddenly in January.

Leading councillors think the result in the Labour stronghold will be a barometer for the General Election believed to be only weeks away.

Coun Ellison, 55, died suddenly as she was due for the results of a liver biopsy carried out when she became ill last October.

She joined the council in 1990 and served on many committees, sub- committees and panels.

She and her husband Brian, a housing manager, had been married for 32 years and met when they were members of the young socialists.

Before her election, the ward, which includes Barkerend, had been held by Labour for many years.

Labour lost overall control of the council last May after a decade. It left Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan authority hung for the first time since the 1980s.

The council has 40 Labour members, 37 Conservatives, 11 Liberal Democrats and its first Green party member, Councillor David Ford.

Labour had widely expected to retain the council leadership, but the Liberal Democrats linked with the Tories to elect Conservative Councillor Margaret Eaton to the top job.

The two parties frequently vote for the same policies which were passed on their joint majority. But they deny they are a coalition.

Councillor Eaton said she believed the election would prove what the public felt about Tony Blair's Government, the foot and mouth crisis and the issues surrounding Peter Mandelson and Keith Vaz.

Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Labour group, said the by-election would not affect the balance of power on the council, but they were confident of regaining the seat. He added: "The circumstances of this by-election are very sad because it is due to the death of a much-loved local councillor."

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said people had made it clear on the doorsteps what they thought of ten years of Labour control.

About 12,500 people are eligible to vote at the 11 polling stations which will be open from 8am to 9pm.