ALTHOUGH the county council elections in the Winchester area will be a two-horse race between the Tories and Lib Dem, unfancied runners could play a major role.

Both the Greens and the UK Independence Party are fighting many more seats than when they were last contested in 2005.

Four years ago the Greens stood in only one election and UKIP none; this time the Greens are contesting four and UKIP all seven.

UKIP may well take votes from Eurosceptic Conservatives while the Greens could hurt the Lib Dems.

Labour, hugely unpopular nationally, will do well to finish third.

Holding the county council elections on the same day as the European poll is highly unusual, if not unprecedented.

Voters often use the Euro election to support fringe parties.

That could spill over into the county vote too.

There are seven elections in the Winchester area and the Lib Dems hold five seats, leaving them exposed to a Conservative surge.

The Tories are defending two rock-solid safe seats in the Meon Valley and Winchester Southern Parishes.

The most tantalising tussle is in the Itchen Valley between sitting Lib Dem councillor Jackie Porter and the Tory city council leader George Beckett. Mrs Porter won the seat by only 56 votes in 2005 but has gained a reputation as a tireless worker in her patch.

Choosing Mr Beckett to fight the Itchen Valley is a calculated gamble.

He is a heavyweight politician, who was narrowly pipped to the parliamentary candidacy by Steve Brine, and highly regarded/ feared by all sides. However he lives in Compton, which, whilst only a few miles out of the division, is far enough away to open up accusations that he is not local enough.

The parties’ canvassing says it is too close to call.

Another unknown is how the crisis over MPs’ expenses will play out locally and whether any party will benefit.

In 2005 the election coincided with the General Election and turnout in some parts was as high as 75 per cent. It will not get anywhere near that this time.

The long-running political hot potato of Barton Farm and development is always being raised on the doorstep. But it is something that neither the Lib Dems nor Conservatives can expect to gain from, as both parties on the city council backed the decision to support building 2,000 homes there.

The Tories point out that under their leadership at The Castle the county council has won national plaudits. They point out that council tax rises have been kept low whilst money has been invested in schools and residential homes. It is hard for the opposition to land telling blows against the Tories, when they do not hold power nationally.