LADIES and gentlemen, we are under starters orders for the race to Westminster after the not-so-secret election date was confirmed on Tuesday.

And nowhere is the battle quite so hot as that in Warrington South where the three main parties all believe they have a strong claim to retiring MP Helen Southworth’s spot in Parliament.

Labour candidate Nick Bent will be hoping to hold on to the party’s 3,000 majority in the seat but believes it will be between his party and his Conservative rival David Mowat.

He said: “Warrington South voters are choosing a new MP and the future Government of Britain, because this marginal seat is a very close two horse race between Labour and the Tories.

“The key question is whether you want to continue to secure the economic recovery and protect frontline public services with Labour, or whether you trust David Cameron and George Osborne to run our country in a competent and fair way. Do voters really think the Tories would be good for Warrington? The race here is too close to call, so every single Labour vote will count.”

Meanwhile Mr Mowat told his campaigners that the battle was also between them and Labour.

He said: “Here in Warrington South you are faced with an important decision, the answer to which is likely to echo the choice of the country. At every general election since this seat was created, the Liberal Democrats have come a distant third.

“I have been campaigning in Warrington for three years now and I have established a record of action that I am proud to be judged on: from helping people get back into work - to leading opposition against Labour’s mega prison – to the Runcorn Bridge tolls.”

But Liberal Democrat candidate Jo Crotty believes that the party has a strong hold on the area with the party holding 22 out of 27 council seats in the area.

She said: “This is a big and bold statement that we are out to take the seat from Labour. We have the local support and the strength on the ground needed to make the difference.

“Most of our literature will be delivered by local volunteers. We don’t have the money from trade unions or millionaires that goes to Labour and the Tories, but we do have people prepared to do everything they can to help us make the breakthrough.”

Also standing in the hotly contested constituency is James Ashington for UKIP, former Lymm Parish Council chairman, and Steph Davies for the Greens.

In Warrington North Helen Jones is the heavy favourite to retain her parliamentary seat for the fourth consecutive election.

But she faces opposition from Conservative candidate and council finance boss Paul Campbell and fighting the seat for the Lib Dems will be former Labour borough councillor Dave Eccles.