The borough's Green Party and Reform UK & Bolton for Change Party will battle for an unlikely victory in the Rumworth by-election later this month.

Five candidates are up for election after Ebrahim Aida, formerly the ward’s Labour councillor, chose to step down due to career commitments.

The by-election takes place on Thursday, September 15.

Vying for residents’ votes are Charles Cooper (Liberal Democrats), Alan Johnson (Green Party), Rose Makar (Reform UK & Bolton for Change), Ayyub ‘Chota’ Patel (Conservative), and Ismail Patel (Labour).

Both the Greens and Reform UK & Bolton for Change believe their chances of winning stem from their candidates being local and well known in the community.

Mr Johnson said: “Martyn Cox (council leader) says the Tory candidate has lived in Rumworth all his life.

"This is not strictly true. His current address is on Hulton Lane, which is in Hulton Ward.

Bolton by-election to be held in Rumworth

“The Labour candidate also lives in Hulton ward. He resides on Sonning Drive.

“I actually live in Rumworth ward, and I am well-known in large parts of the ward.

“We are hoping for a much higher vote this time.

“We have consistently polled much higher votes than the Liberal Democrats in the ward. For example, we polled 226 votes, to the Liberal Democrats 55 last May.”

Trevor Jones, leader of Reform UK & Bolton for Change, says that although Rumworth is not a particularly happy hunting ground for his party, Ms Makar is an ideal candidate.

He said: “She’s a lovely lady. She’s from Rumworth and she knows everyone in the community. Everyone.

“She’s a great girl, a local girl. She’s the ideal candidate, really.”

He added: “It’s not a fantastic area for us but we will show out representation everywhere.

“We need to start beating the Greens, really, and stary climbing up the ladder.

 “Whenever there’s an election we will be standing. We have to for the people of Bolton. Especially now with Reform UK on our side.

“We’ve got 40 candidates already up for next year. We need 60.

“We’re going up and up and up. When you start something from the ground there’s only one way to go.”