ONLY three of the county's 20 community councils will require elections on Thursday (October 4) following the close of candidate nominations.

Elections are set to take place in Cockenzie and Port Seton, Gifford, and Garvald and Morham to decide which candidates will be elected.

But in the other 17 community council areas, not enough candidates have stood for there to be a need for an election.

Instead, all nominees will be automatically elected and serve on their community councils from Thursday.

The 17 community councils which do not require elections are: Musselburgh and Inveresk; Whitecraig; Wallyford; Prestonpans; Longniddry; Tranent and Elphinstone; Ormiston; Pencaitland; Macmerry and Gladsmuir; Gullane Area; North Berwick; Humbie, East and West Saltoun and Bolton; Haddington and District; Dunpender; West Barns; Dunbar; and East Lammermuir.

In the remaining three community council areas, voting will take place by postal ballot.

All ballot papers must be with the returning officer by noon on the day of the election, with the count commencing an hour later at John Muir House in Haddington.

In Cockenzie and Port Seton, 12 candidates are contesting the 10 available positions, among them 3 Harbours Festival chairman Andrew Crummy and Cockenzie and Port Seton In Bloom stalwart Sheila Chambers, as well as current community council chair Margaret Hamilton.

Also standing are Alexanderina Bell, Lachlan Bruce, Robert Bryson, Kareen Caldwell, Liz Clark, Dennis Fisher, Bryan Hickman, Pauline Torley and William Wilson.

Gifford Community Council has 11 candidates for nine positions. Those standing are David Griffiths, Alastair McClung, Craig McLachlan, William McQuade, Sheila Millar, Nick Morgan, Alexander Renton, Brian Thomson, Suzanne Vestri, Elizabeth Whiteford and John Wrinn.

While in Garvald and Morham one of the seven candidates will be unsuccessful in joining the six-strong body. The nominees are Rufus Bellamy, Gary Galbraith, Ian Middlemass, Kirstie Shearer, Penny Short, Ian Smith and Phillip White.