A MOTHER and daughter are set to carry on a family political tradition in tomorrow’s council election in Newport.

Carmel and Holly Townsend are among three Liberal Democrat candidates standing for the city’s St Julians ward.

Carmel’s husband and Holly’s father Ed Townsend represented St Julians for the Liberal Democrats for 12 years, until his death a year ago, after a short illness.

He was deputy leader of Newport council from 2008-2012, during a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition administration in the city.

Mother-of-six Mrs Townsend also served as a councillor for St Julians for four years from 2008, and worked the behind the scenes when her husband was re-elected in 2012.

She was elected as councillor for the ward following a by-election last July.

Holly Townsend meanwhile, will be making her debut as a candidate.

Nine candidates are contesting three seats in St Julians - three each for Labour and the Liberal Democrats, two for the Conservatives, and one for Plaid Cymru.

A former Newport primary school headteacher is also standing for election to the city council.

Ann Picton, who is a Labour Party candidate for the Marshfield ward, was the headteacher at Clytha primary school, on Bryngwyn Road, for 21 years until her retirement in summer 2011.

She was awarded the MBE for services to education in the 2012 New Year Honours List.

There are six candidates battling it out for two seats in the Marshfield ward, two for the Labour Party, two for the Conservatives, and one each for the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.