THURROCK is a marginal constituency with each political party seeing it very much as a winnable seat.

Two years ago, Conservative Jackie Doyle-Price was re-elected after fending off a strong challenge from Labour’s Polly Billington in second and Ukip’s Tim Aker finishing in third. A recount on election night saw just 974 votes separate the top three last time around.

Fast forward two years and Labour has put Thurrock man and former council leader John Kent in to bat, as the party bids to go one better than in 2015.

Mr Aker remains bullish over his chances and has been given another chance of snatching the seat away from the Tories.

Ilford-born Kevin McNamara is standing for the Liberal Democrats and will be looking to make ground on his three rivals after polling less than 700 votes in 2015.

Ukip insiders have ranked Thurrock as their most likely chance of winning a seat, and Labour have it in their top ten.

Most of the issues in Thurrock have been dominated by questions over infrastructure, health, transport and education.

April saw the Government reveal its preferred Option C for the new Lower Thames Crossing – a link road between Essex and Kent.

The route could pass through Ockendon, Orsett, north of Chadwell St Mary, eventually reaching a tunnel at Tilbury. All candidates have opposed the decision.

Ms Doyle-Price has insisted that there will eventually need to be a new crossing, but that the option tabled is inappropriate.

It is just one element of the Thurrock battleground, likely to be one of the country’s most keenly-fought elections.