More than 100 hopefuls are off the mark, vying for seats on Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan authority.

Election fever has hit the streets after nominations closed at City Hall yesterday.

Minority groups are in an all-out battle to cut Labour's 50 seat majority after its landslide victory in the last council elections two years ago.

And candidates go to the hustings armed with promises amid the hottest education controversy to hit the district for three decades.

Proposals to axe the middle school system are likely to dominate the doorstep debates in the battle to woo voters on May 7.

And this year's local goverment elections will be the first real test of Tony Blair's Government since it swept to power last year.

Tories and Liberal Democrats are contesting all 30 seats in a bid to erode Labour power.

The Green Party is also fielding five hopefuls in a bid to get its first foothold in City Hall.

Lord Mayor-elect Tony Miller is defending his Shipley East Labour stronghold.

In Heaton veteran Tory councillor Stanley King - the Conservative's nominee for the top job - is defending the seat he regained from Labour in a shock victory two years ago.

Bingley is another election hot spotspot with Labour's Chris Leslie resigning to concentrate on his work as Westminster's youngest MP.

But Tory stalwart and leader Conservative group leader Councillor Margaret Eaton is defending her Bingley rural ward stronghold. And the group's Chief Whip Anne Hawkesworth is defending her Ilkley seat.

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland is also in the race in Idle.

Labour goes into the campaign with five councillors stepping down mainly because of work and home commitments.

Leader John Ryan said he believed people would take into consideration a mix of local and national issues. He said the schools review was seen as a positive move to boost educational achievements.

But Tory group leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "Clearly we are looking at certain wards where local people have been hit hard by proposed school closures. The Council can no longer hide behind a Conservative Government."

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said the election was about what local people wanted from their Council and councillors.

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