The Conservative Party were hoping to win their first Sheffield seat in four years as voters went to the polls today.

The Dore and Totley ward is currently held by three Liberal Democrat councillors.

But Conservative candidate Anne Smith with go head to head with Liberal Democrat councillor Colin Ross in Thursday’s local election. 

Mrs Smith said she is “very confident” of regaining the seat she held for eight years from 2000 to 2008.

“Our big message is that the ward would be better represented if there was a councillor to go to who wasn’t Lib Dem,” she said.

Mrs Smith said she would provide an alternative voice in the ward.

“I’m a local person and a local councillor. My ambition is to lead this ward,” she said.

“There is a lot of garden grabbing that goes on by developers and we have schools that are over-subscribed.

“Politics is in my blood, it always has been.

“I want to look after the community, sort out injustice and speak for the underdog.

“It will be close but I’m very confident.”

'"Part of the community"

A Conservative Party spokesman, who asked not to be named, backed Anne Smith to win the seat.

“People who vote for Anne Smith are voting for someone who lives in, and is part of the community,” he said.

“If her personal voters and the people she has worked with, such as on the Dore Conservation Group, vote then Anne will win.

Christina Stark, Conservative candidate for Ecclesall, said a Conservative councillor would bring “some common sense” to howSheffieldwas run.

“We haven’t got a single councillor inSheffieldwhich we feel is a shame because it doesn’t add that extra discussion,” she said.

“We feel that when it comes to economy we’ve got a good record in the past. We could come in again and bring some common sense with reduced spending and looking after the budget.”

The Dore and Totley ward made the news earlier this week when Steve Moxon was stripped of his UKIP candidacy following comments on his blog about Norwegian killer Anders Breivik.