LIBERAL Democrat Stephen Kearney is the only candidate likely to beat the Conservatives in the race to succeed Tory Boris Johnson as Henley MP, according to Ladbrokes bookmakers.

They have put the parliamentary hopeful at 6-1 to win the by-election on Thursday, June 26. The Liberal Democrats came second at the General Election in 2005, but Mr Johnson still had a majority of almost 13,000.

Ladbrokes see Mr Kearney 49, as the clear challenger to Conservative John Howell, and have rated Labour candidate Richard McKenzie's chances at 100-1 to win the election. Mr McKenzie, 41, is a former Reading Borough Council member.

Last Friday, two party leaders were in town to support their candidates - Tory leader David Cameron for Dorchester and Berinsfield county councillor Dr Howell and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg for Mr Kearney.

At midday yesterday, there were ten nominated candidates for the by-election: John Allpass, of Marlow (English Democrat), The Banana Man from Reading (Monster Raving Loony Party), Louise Anne Cole, of Fulham (Ind), Amanda Harrington, of Liverpool (Ind), John Michael Howell, of Warborough (Con), Stephen Andrew Kearney, of Aston Rowant (Lib Dem), Richard Mark McKenzie, of Reading (Lab), Timothy Sylvester Rait, of Haslemere (British National Party), Richard Rogers, of Birmingham (Common Ground), and Mark Christopher Stevenson, of Dorchester (Green).

Anyone else wanting to challenge for Mr Johnson's seat had to have their nominations in by 4pm yesterday.

The by-election count will be held at Thame Leisure Centre, in Oxford Road - the first time the venue has been used. Returning officer David Buckle, chief executive of South Oxfordshire District Council, said the counting would start shortly after 10pm and he expected the result to be announced by 2am.

A special website will give people everything they need to know about voting at the by-election - and the man in charge of the election, Mr Buckle is keeping a blog - a diary on the web - throughout the election period. The websites - southoxon.gov.uk/byelection and henleybyelection.blogspot.com - have been set up by the district council. The council is urging people with questions to first look on the websites or e-mail communications@southoxon.gov.uk for answers.

Check The Herald's website - www.heraldseries.co.uk - for the latest by-election news.