CAERPHILLY county borough covers a geographically large area with a population of 180,164, the largest in Gwent.

The area stretches from Caerphilly itself and Risca in the south to Rhymney in the north, encompassing towns including Ystrad Mynach, Newbridge, Blackwood, Aberbargoed and New Tredegar.

The county borough has the highest number of candidates running for the council in Gwent this year, with 201 nominees putting their names forward, including 71 from Labour and 68 from Plaid Cymru, along with 28 Conservatives and 17 Independents.

Ukip has fielded 11 candidates, along with three Liberal Democrats and one each from the Green Party, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and the Christian Peoples Alliance.

Unusually for Gwent; Caerphilly is covered by three Westminster and Welsh Assembly constituencies, although all six representatives are Labour politicians.

The western area of the county borough encompassing Caerphilly itself, as well as Ystrad Mynach and Bargoed is covered by the Caerphilly constituency represented by Wayne David in Parliament and Hefin David in the Senedd.

Meanwhile the eastern side of the county falls into Islwyn, encompassing Risca, Blackwood, Abercarn, Newbridge and Aberbargoed, and is represented by Chris Evans in Westminster and Rhianon Passmore in Cardiff Bay.

The northernmost part of Caerphilly encompassing New Tredegar and Rhymney forms the easternmost part of the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency, which is represented by Gerald Jones in Parliament and Dawn Bowden in the Senedd.

Caerphilly also falls within the South Wales East Assembly region, which is currently represented by Conservatives Mohammad Asghar, better known as Oscar, and Mark Reckless, who earlier this month defected from Ukip, as well as Steffan Lewis for Plaid Cymru and Ukip’s David Rowlands.

The county borough also falls within the responsibility of Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent Jeff Cuthbert, formerly AM for Caerphilly.

In last year’s referendum, the county borough voted to leave the European Union with 57.63 per cent backing Brexit.

As with much of Gwent; Caerphilly suffered from the closure of the coal mining industry in the latter half of the 20th century.

The town is home to the Lansbury Park Estate, widely considered to be the most deprived estate in Wales.

Probably the most recognisable landmark in the area is the 13th century Caerphilly Castle, which stands in the town centre and is the second largest castle in Britain.

Although ruined, a large portion of the castle still remains, and has been used as a filming location for Doctor Who multiple times.

The castle plays hosts to a popular annual food fair, The Big Cheese, named for the world-famous cheese named after the town, every summer, with visitors numbering in the tens of thousands.

Caerphilly is also the birthplace of legendary comedian Tommy Cooper, and a statue honouring his memory stands in the Twyn area of the town.

The remains of an Iron Age hill fort also sit on on Twmbarlwm near Risca.

In 1912, distress signals from the Titanic were first received in Blackwood by amateur wireless enthusiast Arthur Moore.

Other notable people from the town are world-champion boxer Joe Calzaghe, who was born in Newbridge. and actor Luke Evans, most recently seen as Gaston in the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast, who went to school in Aberbargoed.

County statistics:

Population: 180,164

Ethnicity: White - 97.6 per cent

Asian/Asian British - 0.9 per cent

Black/Black British - 0.3 per cent

Mixed - 0.8 per cent

Other - 0.4 per cent

Average weekly pay: £573

Unemployment: 5 per cent

Average house price: £117,227

Average life expectancy: 77.6 (men) 82.1 (women)

Number of Welsh speakers: 11.2 per cent

Number of businesses: 3,7770

Current council makeup:

Number of seats: 73

Labour: 49

Plaid Cymru: 19

Independent: 5