Four candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the race to become Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner from next month.

Conservative Tim Passmore was first elected to the position when it was created in 2012. He is seeking a fourth term in the post which currently has a salary of £73,300.

He is one of only two English PCCs who have been in post since the role was created by the coalition government - and could probably be facing his biggest challenge since the first election.

The method of electing a PCC has changed. It is now a straight first past the post election - like those for MPs and councillors. Previously people had been able to express a first or second preference.

Had first past the post been in place for the first election in 2012, Mr Passmore would have lost to Labour - but he has had comfortable victories in 2016 and 2021 when the elections were delayed for a year by the pandemic.

This year opinion polls suggest the result could be a lot tighter.

Labour's candidate is Sir Robin Wales who moved to Cavendish after spending 16 years as directly-elected mayor of Newham in east London between 2002 and 2018.

He has a wealth of local government experience - but is a relative newcomer to Suffolk.

The Liberal Democrats have chose James Sandbach to be their candidate for the post.

Mr Sandbach is a well-known figure in LibDem circles in the county and has stood for parliament four times. He is his party's parliamentary candidate in Ipswich for this year's general election.

Rachel Smith-Lyte is the Green Party candidate. She is a member of East Suffolk Council where her party is leading the coalition which runs the administration  at present.

The vote takes place on May 2  and votes will be counted by local authorities across Suffolk which is being co-ordinated by West Suffolk Council.

The winner is expected to be announced at the Bury St Edmunds count at lunchtime on Friday, May 3.