There really is no jeopardy about who will be in power in Ipswich after May's local council election - Labour is widely expected to stay in control.

Unlike the Suffolk's district councils where all seats are up for election, in Ipswich only a third of the seats are being contested this year.

That means 16 of the 48 seats are up for election and it is almost impossible for Labour's 16-seat majority at the borough council to be overturned.

Of the seats being contested this time, 11 are held by Labour, four by the Conservatives and one by the LibDems.

Labour has its tails up - two of the four wards being defended by the Tories already have Labour councillors as well and its members think they can make gains.

The Lib Dems will be hoping to hold on to their St Margaret's fortress - but will probably struggle everywhere else as the two big parties slug it out.

The most interesting contest this year is Holywells where former Conservative council leader Liz Harsant is defending a seat where Labour won last year.

As a popular and respected local figure, she would normally have an advantage - but Labour have chosen well-known local shopkeeper Cathy Frost to challenge her.

That's going to be a tight battle between two of the best-known faces in Ipswich.

Labour surprised many people in taking the Stoke Park seat of well-known Conservative Nadia Cenci last year. Its supporters hope to repeat that this year.

And while the Conservatives would like to overturn Labour majorities in Sprites, Whitton and Gainsborough, party officials probably know this is a year to consolidate what you've got rather than looking for unlikely gains.

This will also be the last election that David Ellesmere will be leading the Labour group - he will be standing down after the election and returning to the back benches.