Polls open in Glenrothes West and Kinglassie by-election

Polling is open for today’s crucial Glenrothes council by-election.

The second by-election in the ward this year, it will determine the balance of power on the Glenrothes area committee, the town’s decision-making body.

Following the resignation of councillor Bill Brown from the SNP, the committee has been finely balanced with five Labour and five SNP councillors, as well as Mr Brown as an independent.

Today’s ballot for the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie ward is expected to be a two-horse race between Julie Ford, the candidate for the defending SNP, and Labour’s Alan Seath.

Other candidates standing today are Lorna Ross, for the Scottish Green Party, and Jonathan Gray, who has been selected to stand for the Scottish Conservatives.

Votes will be counted at Fife House this evening, with a result expected around midnight.

For live coverage from the count follow Jonathan Watson on Twitter @c_jwatson.