Voters in Hersham and Weybridge will get the chance to elect their new representatives at Elmbridge Council next month.

The by-election for the St George's Hill ward was called following the death of councillor John Bartlett, who died of cancer in August.

Mr Bartlett represented the area for the St George's Hill Independents for just over 10 years.

The other by-election will decide who represents the Hersham North ward, after Tory councillor Doug Packer stepped down from the role this month due to work commitments.

Mr Packer was elected in May 2008, but had the lowest record of attendance out of all the councillors in his first year.

The Conservatives will see the two elections on Thursday, October 21, as opportunity to further bolster their majority at the council, especially as the party managed to take one of the three St George's Hill ward seats from the St George's Hill Independents in May.

However, Roy Green, who has announced he will run for the Hersham Village Society (HVS) in Hersham North, said independent candidates like himself were better suited to represent local people than their Conservative counterparts.

He said: "No one sits on my shoulder telling me what to do and I will do what is best for the public.

"The HVS has had many recent successes, including stopping the underground hotel development on the golf course."

Mr Green, who in the May local elections narrowly lost out in gaining a seat in the Hersham South ward, also said he was proud 1,350 people voted for him and not for a political party.

Conservative leader Councillor John O'Reilly said: "The Conservative team in Hersham works together and we have a good record of service.

"Mary Sheldon and Ian Donaldson in particular are very well known and that's the basis of what we want to do - particularly the environment and keeping an eye on planning applications, making sure there's no undesirable development in Hersham."

Liberal Democrats were not available for comment as the paper went to press.

Elmbridge Council has urged people wishing to vote by post for the first time to submit their applications to the electoral registration officer by 5pm on October 6.

Application to vote by proxy must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on October 13.

For more information, visit elmbridge.gov.uk