The Oakham by-election is proving to be a family affair as the wife of one councillor and the daughter of another have thrown their hats into the ring. 

Residents in Oakham North East will choose a new county councillor next month, after the sudden death of Cllr Hannah Edwards (Lib Dem), who had joined Rutland County Council in last year's local elections.  

Now Kate Ross, the daughter of Labour councillor for Oakham North West Ramsay Ross, and Linda Chatfield, the wife of Cllr Mark Chatfield (Lib Dem), who represents the town's North East ward, are hoping to get elected to the authority. Kate Ross wants to be elected as a Labour councillor like her father and Linda Chatfield will be representing the same party as her husband. 

They are on the ballot alongside Conservative Christopher Clark, who is an Oakham town councillor and Reform UK candidate Ben Callaghan, who was an Independent councillor for a number of years. 

All four candidates have cited the regeneration of the town centre as a key issue for them. 

Christopher Clark, who has lived in Oakham for the majority of his life, is now retired after a successful business career.  

He said: "I do a lot of volunteering and I have been involved in so many things in Oakham, that if I was elected to the county council I would be able to make a real difference. I think the regeneration of the town centre would be a great thing, and it is good that there has been a recent meeting of traders, but it would be nice for the residents to be also involved in what they would like to see for the town centre." 

Linda Chatfield, who is retired and spent many years working in the voluntary sector for charities such as Age UK said her parents had been Liberal Party members and like them she believed in its values.   

She said: "I find politics quite interesting, which I know a lot of people say is odd. It would be the two of us {her and her husband} if I got in. We would be able to share ideas and I would like to carry on the surgeries that Hannah Edwards used to hold." 

Gardener Ben Callaghan joined Nigel Farage's Reform UK after the summer's election and says from the small sample of people he has spoken to so far, he thinks he could pick up a fair few votes. 

He said: "It is early days and we have just started canvassing but the 20 or so people I have spoken to so far have said they will vote Reform. The party is saying the things that people want to hear – which is just common sense really. They want a bit more money in their pockets." 

Kate Ross was unavailable for comment. 

The election will happen on Thursday, November 21, with the result likely known the next day.