SIX candidates will be standing in the upcoming general election for the Epping Forest Constituency.

Conservative, Eleanor Laing, who has held the seat for 20 years, hopes to maintain her position.

In what is considered a safe Conservative area, she has increased her majority every year since 2001.

Jon Whitehouse is the Liberal Democrat candidate.

In 2015, they were the fourth party in Epping. Mr Whitehouse was the only Liberal Democrat representing the Epping Forest District on the County Council before he lost his seat in the recent local elections.

Liam Preston is standing for the Labour Party, who finished third in 2015.

Patrick O’Flynn is standing for UKIP, who came second in Epping in 2015.

Thomas Hall is standing for the Young Peoples Party. He is only the second candidate they have put forward since 1974.

Simon Heap is hoping to win it for the Green’s. He recently failed in his attempts to win a seat on Essex County Council for Buckhurst Hill and Loughton South.

The Epping Forest constituency has been a safe Conservative seat since its inception in 1974.

The first MP was Sir John Biggs-Davison. He won the seat with an 8,000 majority in its first year.

Since Eleanor Laing took over in 1997, she has increased her majority in all successive elections, apart from in 2001.

She won it with 17,978 votes in 2015, when UKIP came second place.

The whole constituency is made up by Loughton, Epping, Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Theydon Bois and North Weald.

Hustings will take place between the six candidates on Tuesday, May 23 at St John’s Church, Epping, at 8pm.