THE race for Herefordshire's two parliamentary seats is on with the calling of a General Election for Thursday, May 5.

Hereford could be one of most ruggedly contested constituencies in the country as the Conservative try to re-take their former bastion - having come closer than expected in 2001.

Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch cannot sit comfortably on his 968 majority. But no one knows better than he how complacent his camp became last time. He is determined that will not happen again.

The Tories have given Virginia Taylor a second shot at one of their top targets. They must return seats such as Hereford to the fold if they are to find a way back into power.

One of Labour's youngest would-be MPs ever - 26-year-old Tom Calver - is looking to make his mark and UKIP's Chris Kingsley and Green Brian Lunt will also be contesting Hereford.

The landslide win for Bill Wiggin in Leominster last time around was a rare rallying point for Tory pride.

Mr Wiggin has a 10,367 majority to defend this time.

Up against him this time are Liberal Democrat challenger Caroline Williams, Green stalwart Felicity Norman, and Paul Bell (Labour) and Peter Venables (UKIP).