St Albans will turn into a political battleground when voters head to the polls on Thursday.

The Marshalswick South by-election for two seats on St Albans District Council follows the resignations of Heidi Allen and Seema Kennedy, who have both become Tory parliamentary candidates - for South Ribble and South East Cambs respectively.

Polling will open at 7am and all three main parties together with UKIP and the Greens are contesting the vacancies.

Council leader Julian Daly said: "I apologise to the electorate that a knock on effect the resignations has caused a double by-election in this case.

"I note that voters have two votes and I hope they use them for Richard Curthoys and Steve McKeown as they are very good local candidates.

"Failure to hold the seats would likely make it too difficult to continue running the council in the effective way that we have been."

If the Conservatives lose just one of their two seats, they will no longer be the largest party in the council chamber.

Challenging for the Liberal Democrats is Mark Pedroz and Elizabeth Needham. Mr Pedroz said: "This is a wholly unnecessary by-election at the wrong time of year.

"No one has died, but it is a chance for Marshalswick South electors to be represented by someone who has lived in the ward and knows the issues.

"We have enjoyed knocking on doors and proving the energy which Liberal Democrats are prepared to devote to St Albans, rather than to advancing their own political careers."

The issues people in St Albans want to see addressed are inconsiderate parking, opposing bus cuts and a new crossing at Beech Road.

That is the belief of Labour candidates Richard Harris and Vivienne Windle.

Mr Harris has lived in Marshalswick South since 1979 and said he is familiar with and has a keen interest in the issues arising in Marshalswick South and also shares the experience of many residents in St Albans of travelling to London on the train.

Vivienne Windle has lived in St Albans for 27 years, where her two children went to school. Following an earlier career in local government, she worked as a researcher in Parliament from 1998 until 2010. She also has experience of setting up youth projects and getting grant funding for a youth café.

Standing for the Green Party is Jill Mills and Tim Robinson. Ms Mills is a nurse, and used to be a market trader in St Albans.

She's lived in Marshalswick South ward for 18 years. She said: "I'd like to give residents more power to make improvements in their locality, and protect the environment. I'll also be pursuing the idea of a local craft market to help young entrepreneurs, and a new youth centre for the city."

The two UKIP councillors believe they can put the interests and wants of the local community before the party machine.

Michael Hollins and David Dickson said their priorities are protecting the Green Belt, opposing cuts to front-line services and supporting local referenda on major planning decisions.

Michael Hollins said: "For Marshalswick and St Albans more widely, I am very concerned at the pressures on our Green Belt. It seems like a never-ending struggle, fight after fight, to keep St Albans from being subsumed into neighbouring districts. Before any new houses are built, the roads are already congested. I am absolutely opposed to any building on our Green Belt and will fight your corner."

David Dickson is a member of the Committee of the St Albans Green Belt Association and an active member of a number of local charities for whom I volunteer.

He said: "I also believe strongly in the provision of sports facilities and the encouragement of recreational activities. I am especially concerned at the continued loss of school playing fields for housing or other developments."

The polling stations will be at Bernards Heath Ingant School in Sandridge Road and United Reformed Church Hall in Homewood Road.