Politicians are preparing for a busy week with elections for police and crime commissioners and some council seats on Thursday.

In Suffolk, there are by-elections taking place in county county certain wards, a third of Ipswich Borough Council is up for election and there are several vacancies on Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury councils.

In Colchester, the whole council is up for election.

Here we bring you details.

Police and Crime Commissioner

Voters right across Suffolk and Essex will be able to choose a new police and crime commissioner for their counties for the next four years.

Suffolk County Council

There are no mass elections but there will be by-election in two wards.

There is a vacancy in Bixley Ward, Ipswich following the resignation of former cabinet member Dr Alan Murray earlier this year. He stepped down for personal reasons.

Voters in Haverhill will also go the polls to replace Tim Marks who died suddenly at the start of the year.

Ipswich Borough Council

In Ipswich a third of the borough council is up for election and party workers in Ipswich have said they have still had a good response to their local issues on the doorstep despite the hot topic of debate being the EU referendum.

They said they are expecting a typical “mid-term” election turnout, well down on last year’s general election.

Forest Heath District Council

Four candidates are to compete to represent Brandon West ward following the death of David Bimson in February.

While just two are contesting the South Ward seat, which i s also vacant at present.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council

Haverhill North Ward is up for grabs with four contestants vying for your vote.

Colchester Borough Council

In Colchester the whole authority will be elected because there have been boundary changes.

EU Referendum

This is not taking place until Thursday, June 23, when the nation gets to decide if we stay in the EU or turn our backs on our economic partners.

There have been fears that this year’s elections could be overshadowed by the European referendum.

Counting and results

Voting takes place on Thursday with the counts for the council elections in Ipswich and Colchester happening overnight and results due int he early hours of the morning.

The police and crime commissioner counts are during the day on Friday – as are the counts for by-elections in west Suffolk.

For live coverage of the counts, visit our websites from 10pm Thursday.