Former nurse and Troon councillor Susan Wilson has been selected for Labour while taxi driver John Wallace will represent the SNP. And the Conservatives have chosen young activist Dan McCroskrie to contest the Ayr East by election. Andrew Bryden, of Meadowpark Drive, Ayr is standing as an independent and Boyd Murdoch, of Troon, is the Scottish Green Party candidate.

Voters will hit the polls on September 17.

Three hopefuls were rejected as unsuitable for the SNP - leaving John Wallace, 50, as the clear vetted choice.

The Prestwick dad-of-one said: " I have a number of key pledges I would fulfil as your councillor. They include holding regular monthly surgeries, regular canvassing within the ward and claiming no expenses other than my councillor's salary. I would work tirelessly for my constituents and keep in contact with them."

Mr Wallace was Central Ayrshire MP Philippa Whitford's campaign manager during the general election.

He narrowly lost out in the 2012 local election to Councillor Margaret Toner.

He said: "My father David Wallace was the founding member of the SNP in Ayr. I have 32 years experience as a member."

Labour's choice Susan Wilson, 70, of Heathfield, was an elected councillor in the 1990's but resigned to take care of her son Jonathan who died from cancer aged only 31.

The grandmother-of six said: “I just want to be a good councillor. Constituents will be able to approach me in the street as I’ll be out and about. I won’t be sitting up in County Buildings all day.

“My voice will be heard and I’ll be an advocate for all the people in my ward and have a keen interest in helping the elderly and the young.” As well as her experience in local politics, she has worked in the NHS as a senior nurse and sister in Glasgow Royal’s Burns Unit and 12 years with Ayrshire GPs out of hours service.

Mrs Wilson said: “I am really passionate about care in the community and my knowledge of the health system will be useful as a councillor particularly as health and social care have merged in Ayrshire. We need people from all walks of life in the council."

Conservative representative Dan McCroskrie said: "It is an honour to be able to stand in this election. I want to do it because I fundamentally believe in helping people with their day-to-day issues and finding solutions to problems. If I am elected to serve the people of Ayr East I promise to be an accessible councillor and help every individual in the community".