Local elections may seem months away but candidates have just over two months to apply to represent their ward.

North Somerset will head to the polls on May 2 where people will be asked to vote for who they want to represent their ward on North Somerset Council.

Candidates will need to get their applications in by 4pm on April 3 to be in the running.

The current political make-up of the local authority is 36 Conservative councillors, five Independent, one Green Party, four Labour councillors and four Liberal Democrats.

The leader of the council is Cllr Nigel Ashton and his deputy is Cllr Elfan Ap Rees.

Candidates are already able to start canvassing to invite people to register to vote and to consider them for their ward.

Polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm on May 2 and results will be published on the council’s website and to the Mercury website.

Applications to register to vote must be sent to the council by April 12.

The last date for postal vote applications is 5pm on April 15.