The Labour Party have named their candidates for the May 5 local elections in Dumbarton and the Vale.

Gurpreet Singh Johal is aiming to become the only Sikh councillor in Scotland by standing in the Dumbarton ward along with Councillor David McBride.

In the Lomond ward, Martin Rooney, currently leader of the Labour opposition gropu on West Dunbartonshire Council, will be joined on the ballot paper by former councillor Hazel Sorrell.

And in Leven, another former councillor, Michelle McGinty, will stand for Labour alongside serving councillor and former depute Provost John Millar.

Labour is not the only party to have announced its local candidates for the May election: the West Dunbartonshire Community Party has confirmed that sitting councillor Jim Bollan will stand again in the Leven ward, while Drew MacEoghainn will be the WDCP candidate in Lomond.

Duncan Robinson, secretary of Labour’s West Dunbartonshire local government committee, said: “There is a wealth of experience among this group of candidates and a willingness to deliver real change and opportunity to local people.

“This current SNP-led administration has dragged its heels on major projects and failed to make any real impact over the last five years.

“I believe this group of councillors will work tirelessly for constituents and ensure these towns and villages recover stronger than ever as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.”