Battleground Anglia: Thurrock

Thurrock in Essex is the most marginal seat in the Anglia region with the Conservatives winning by just 92 votes in 2010. It is the seventh most marginal seat in the UK and the Tories' third most vulnerable.

The constituency of Thurrock, which borders Greater London, includes the towns of Grays, Tilbury and Purfleet and covers 18 miles on the north bank of the River Thames. An area historically known for its quarrying and heavy industry, it is now better known for retail services and as a distribution centre. The riverside is still an important industrial area, with manufacturing and port activities along the Thames.

Lakeside, one of Europe's largest indoor shopping malls, lies in the south of the constituency, just off the M25.

• Conservative majority in 2010: 92

• The most marginal seat in the Anglia region

• Labour would need a 0.1% swing to take the seat

• UKIP are targeting Thurrock

According to the 2011 Census, the seat has the highest population of any in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. At the 2010 General Election, the turnout of voters was less than 50% - the lowest in the Anglia region.

Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft has been conducting snapshot polls in marginal seats across the UK. One conducted in May 2014 put Labour in the lead with a 37% share and Ukip on 29% and the Conservatives on 27%. A follow-up poll in July the same year suggest Ukip had moved up to 36% with Labour on 30% and the Tories on 28%.

The Thurrock race is clearly going to be closely fought. Labour held the seat from 1945 until 1987 and then again from 1992 until 2010. The Conservatives won in 1987 and 2010.

One of Ukip's newly elected MEP's and the party's former Head of Policy, Tim Aker, is standing in this election.

Candidates in 2015

• Tim Aker - UKIP

• Jamie Barnes - Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol

• Polly Billington - Labour

• Jackie Doyle-Price - Conservative

• Rhodri Jamieson-Ball - Liberal Democrat

• Aba Kristilolu - All People's Party

• Daniel Munyambu - No description