Dorchester residents will be heading to the polls on May 5 to elect the town’s councillors for the next four years.

Here is a list of the 31 people nominated for the four boroughs – Dorchester North, East, South and West.

A total of 20 councillors will be elected so that five councillors will represent each ward.

The council is the fourth tier of government after parliament, the county council and the district council. With a population of over 17,500 it is the largest town in West Dorset.

David Taylor, who is the manager of Owen and Simpson in Dorchester, will be hoping for success in the Dorchester Town Council elections.

The Town Council states that the members supplement the provision of local government services and provides a range of social and recreational facilities, while promoting and representing the town with other national and statutory bodies.

It provides virtually all the open space and sports grounds in the town and provide the hanging baskets in the town centre.

It will be the first time Mr Taylor, 46, has stood in an election and he is also hoping for a good outcome in the West Dorset District Council elections which he is also standing in.

He will be standing for the Dorchester North ward in the elections and he said he hopes he will gain the support from the people of Dorchester.

Mr Taylor, who lives in Normandy Way in the county town, said: “I decided to stand because being a Dorset lad, I wanted to give something to the community.

“I feel that knowing a lot of people within the Dorchester area, I hope that I can count for their backing. I want to be the voice of Dorset and Dorchester.”