Only one ward will be contested in Corsham and four seats will remain vacant due to too few candidates.

The shortfall means Pickwick is the only ward which will hold an election, with eight candidates for seven seats.

In Gastard, Rodney Taylor is the only candidate for the two seats, while Peter Anstey and Charles Fuller keep their Neston seats, with no one else coming forward.

Two of the seven seats in the Corsham Town ward will go unfilled, with only five candidates, and Rudloe will not have a councillor. No one wants to replace Michael Simpkins, who has chosen to stand, unopposed, in Pickwick.

Several councillors are to stand down. Peter Davis, of Corsham Town, and Jenny Collier, of Gastard, will receive long service awards at the annual town meeting.