CAMPAIGNERS who have fought for causes from stopping parking charges to changing a road layout are hoping they will triumph at the May 5 polls.

Staffordshire Moorlands has its own issues which would-be councillors are raising.

A total of 143 people have put their names forward in 27 wards being contested in Leek, Biddulph, Cheadle and the surrounding villages.

Twenty-two are independents, while 31 represent the Moorlands Democratic Alliance – a new group which swallowed up several independent candidates.

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Its members include former Metropolis nightclub owner John Deaville, regular refuse collection critic Donna Roberts and Lions Club president Les Critchlow.

Archaeologist Rick Martin-Bacon, pictured below, is contesting Leek South for the alliance.

Over the past four years, he has campaigned for sensible road layouts and has spoken out as chairman of the Glebeville, Sandon Street, Junction Road and Cornhill Gardens residents' group.

The 47-year-old, of Junction Road, Leek, will campaign on representing residents, investigating the future of the Leek Show, and a pledge to exploit the town's artistic qualities and countryside to attract investment.

He said: "I really do love the people of Leek and I genuinely love living here, but I don't think they've been getting a very good deal."

Mr Martin-Bacon is up against sitting Tory councillors John Povey and Neil Podmore, and sitting independent councillor Keith Harrison.

They face a challenge from two Labour candidates and a Liberal Democrat.

Meanwhile, Sam Hale hopes to become the Moorlands' youngest councillor at the age of 18, standing for Labour in Cheadle South East.

The former Painsley Catholic College student was once a member of the UK Youth Parliament.

He is up against the Liberal Democrats, the Moorlands Democratic Alliance, Conservatives and four independents – including sitting councillor Richard Alcock.