IT has been confirmed that a by-election is to be held in Tilbury on the same day 17 other Thurrock Council wards go to the polls.

Paul Attah (Labour, Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park) has resigned from the council and that means an election will have to be held there too on Thursday, May 1.

Elections were held in the two-councillor Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park ward in 2006 and 2007 and no poll was scheduled to be held there this year.

There will be no elections in the Little Thurrock Rectory and the Stifford Clays wards on 1 May.

Nominations for all wards will open on Thursday, 27 March and close at noon on Friday 4 April.

On Election Day, polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.