Four candidates have put themselves in the running for the upcoming Rutland by-election. 

The departure of Green Party councillor Hans Zollinger-Ball has meant a seat on Rutland County Council is up for grabs and the authority announced this afternoon the contenders who have put themselves in the political contest. 

Four men will battle it out on the doorsteps of the Barleythorpe ward and hope to get votes on July 24's election day. 

The contenders are Andy Burton, independent; Andrew Dinsmore, Conservative; Declan McCarthy, Reform UK and Jonathan Nichols, Liberal Democrat. 

There is no Labour candidate, and the election could be a good test of Reform UK's popularity in Rutland following election successes in neighbouring county's last month. 

The Liberal Democrat party are currently the administration running the authority. 

The council says the deadline for people to register to vote in time for the election is midnight on July 8. 

Applications, changes or cancellations for postal or postal proxy votes must reach Rutland County Council's Electoral Office by 5pm on Wednesday, July 9. 

The deadline to apply for a new proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, July 16. 

All voters must take valid id.