A by election has been called in Rumworth after a councillor has stepped down due to career commitments.

The ward currently only has two active councillors after Ebrahim Aida's choice to step down.

Bolton Labour have called the election, which will take place on Thursday September 15, and now five candidates are looking to join Cllr Shamim Abdullah (independent) and Cllr Abdul Atcha (Labour).

The candidates are Charles Cooper (Liberal Democrats), Alan Johnson (Green Party), Rose Makar (Reform UK & Bolton for Change), Ayyub ‘Chota’ Patel (Conservative), and Ismail Patel (Labour).

Leader of Bolton Conservative party and Bolton Council  Cllr Martyn Cox says that he believes it will be close, after his party made considerable ground on Labour in what has been considered to be a relatively safe seat for them in the past.

He said: “We’re going to fight, and I think we have a really good chance.

“We got 36 per cent of the vote in May. Labours vote went down by 8 per cent and ours went up by 7 per cent, so most of their votes went straight to us.

“In May our resources were stretched right across the borough, but now they are all concentrated on this campaign, and I hope we win.”

“Ayyub is a local lad. He’s lived in Rumworth all his life. He’s very well known, and he gave a very good fight in May.

“I think he’d make a great councillor. He’s very personable and he’s a passionate guy.”

Bolton Labour Leader Nick Peel says that this by election is a chance for Rumworth to “make a statement” against his rivals.

He said: “Rumworth suffers from great deprivation, often made worse by years of austerity and the cost-of-living crisis made by the Tory party.

“It is really important that the people of Rumworth make a statement in this by election.”

He added: “Ismail is an activist for the Labour party and is very hard working and I expect he’ll show more of that commitment.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Bolton Roger Hayes, who’s candidate Mr Cooper has served as a councillor before, said: “We’re probably not the favourite for this ward but we’re fighting hard for every Lib Dem vote.

“It’s very interesting times for politics nationally.”