Berrylands ward includes the Fishponds and was the area for the alternate weekly bin collections trial which was later rolled out across the borough.

On election night four years ago the fate of the council hung in the balance until the very last vote in Berrylands was counted, confirming another four years of Liberal Democrat rule despite Conservatives winning more votes across the borough.

For this historical reason, Berrylands will be a bell-weather ward that could indicate if Conservative attempts to re-take the council will be successful.

Bordered by Ewell Road to the west and the rail line to the north and containing Fishponds park and Surbiton Library, the ward was seat of then Conservative leader and former parliamentary candidate Kevin Davis.

The Lib Dems targeted the seat, and after distributing a controversial leaflet attacking Mr Davis personally he lost by just six votes, a key result that gave the Lib Dems a slim majority in the council chamber and was described as ripping the heart out of the local Conservative party.

The ward also saw the biggest increase in voter turn out, jumping from just 38 per cent in 2002 to 52 per cent.

With Mr Davis now standing for parliament in Yeovil the Tories are fielding a slate of fresh faces, while the Lib Dems are sticking their victorious 2006 team.

Labour and the Christian Peoples Alliance, which includes opposition to high salaries at the top of Kingston Council, also have a full slate of candidates

Candidates for 2010

Karen George - Conservative Party

David Hutchinson - Conservative Party

Paul Jacobs - Christian Peoples Alliance

Martin Lake - Green Party

John Lee - Labour

Anna Lofts - Christian Peoples Alliance

France Moseley - Liberal Democrat

Alasdair Reisner - Labour

Jonathan Rudd - Christian Peoples Alliance

Bob Steed - Liberal Democrats

Peter Topp - Conservative Party

Rohan Yoganathan - Liberal Democrats

Charlotte Ward - Labour

WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME IN 2006?

Turnout 51.51%

BHATTI Sheilla The Labour Party Candidate 152

BOOTH David Alan Conservative Party Candidate 1347

CASHMAN Tom The Labour Party Candidate 194

DANIELL Sarah Llewellyn Christian Peoples Alliance 97

DAVIS Kevin John Conservative Party Candidate 1394

DAWBARN William Green Party 329

LEE John Arthur The Labour Party Candidate 172

MOSELEY Frances Mary Liberal Democrat Focus Team 1555 ELECTED

SARTOR Robert Alexander Conservative Party Candidate 1337

STEED Robert Miles Liberal Democrat Focus Team 1456 ELECTED

YOGANATHAN Rohan Ahilan Liberal Democrat Focus Team 1400 ELECTED

To see a rundown of who is running for Kingston Council in the other wards visit Kingston Council Elections 2010