Three seats have failed to attract contestants in the first battle for places on the new Keighley town council.

And 16 of the candidates will automatically win a seat because nobody is standing against them.

A passionate campaign in Keighley for 'home rule' led to the Government granting permission for a town council - but now it seems there is a lack of interest in standing for it. The town council - with 38,000 voters, it will be the second biggest in Britain - was supported by the Keighley Voice group.

Two wards - Long Lee/Parkwood and Knowle Park - have had no nominations. And there is only one candidate for the two-seat ward of Morton/Sandbeds.

A total of 34 people put their names forward for the election to be held on Thursday, May 2. Sixteen people will take up their places automatically because nobody is standing against them.

Martin Leathley, who spearheaded the campaign, will fight for a seat in the Riddlesden ward when he resigns from his Bradford Council seat this month.

He said: "I expect that when people have seen the town council in action for 12 months there will be more nominations next time and more competition."