FORGET the Kennedys, the Gandhis and the Churchills...

When it comes to family political dynasties, look no further than Bolton.

Almost two in every 10 people taking part in next month's Bolton Council election are related to at least one other candidate.

Leading the family affair are the Liberal Democrats.

They have put forward seven couples, a father and son, two brothers and sisters, a mother and son and even a father and son-in-law among their list of candidates.

But it is the Coxs of Blackrod who prove the party is really the daddy when it comes to keeping it in the family, with no less than four members of the same clan standing.

Cllr Martyn Cox will contest Horwich and Blackrod for the Lib Dems. Meanwhile, over in Great Lever his wife Rosa Garcia, sister Catherine Toft and her husband Simon Toft are all standing.

Not to be left behind, the Conservatives will have three married couples and a brother and son representing them in the ballot.

And Labour can also boast three husband and wife couplings among their list of nominations.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Barbara Ronson has been married to husband Bob, who is also a Bolton councillor.

She said: "If we all get elected we could be in trouble because there will be no one left at home to do the baby sitting.

"It has been a real boost to the team spirit to have so many people from the same families putting themselves forward and if we started to count the cousins we would be here all day."

Lib Dem councillor Julia Silvester is to stand in the Westhoughton South ward while her son is a candidate in Smithills.

She said: "I am so proud and my dream is for us to serve on the council together."

Jane Frappola and her husband Mario are standing for the Conservatives in Westhoughton South and Westhoughton North and Chew Moor respectively.

The couple, who run Mario's Cafe Bar on Market Street, Westhoughton, decided to join the Tories after seeing how people stood up for their rights in Mario's native Italy.

Jane said: "We are both people who speak our minds and we are always talking about politics in work and at home."

Cllr John Byrne, a councillor of 12 years, will stand alongside his wife Lynda as a Labour candidate in Breightmet.

Lynda has had several spells on the council over the last eight years, most recently as a councillor in the central ward. The couple married 32-years-ago after discovering a shared love of politics.

Cllr Byrne said: "It helps to be with someone who understands where you stand on issues and the demands placed on you as a councillor."

Every council seat will be put to the vote for the first time in 25 years on June 10.

Every person on the electoral roll will receive three votes, with the top three candidates in each ward being elected to the council chamber -- making 60 councillors in total. The election, which will be held by a postal vote, will run simultaneously with the European elections to choose nine North-west MEPs.