A former soldier who fought in Iraq, an ex councillor and a former humanitarian aid worker are among those competing for votes in the Tulse Hill byelection.

The seat on Lambeth Council was vacated by Labour's Toren Smith only 17 days after the election. He resigned after being arrested on suspicion of downloading child pornography.

The ward’s residents will go to the polls again on July 1.

Will Blackburn, from Helix Road, who is standing as the Conservative candidate, said he became politicised during his experience as a soldier for the territorial army fighting in Basra, Iraq, in 2003 and 2004.

The 40-year-old, who works for a software company that specialises in delivering efficiency savings for local Government, said he believed he could save the council money without losing jobs if he was elected.

Labour's Ruth Ling, who was joined by former London Mayor Ken Livingstone on the campaign trail on the Tulse Hill estate last Tuesday, is hoping to be elected after losing the seat she held in Clapham Common for 16 years at the election in May.

Mr Livingstone, who grew up in the area, said: "Ruth will be a fantastic councillor for Tulse Hill. She is hugely experienced having been a Lambeth councillor for 16 years, and will be able to get things done for Tulse Hill from day one.

"She has my full backing."

George Graham, who tried to win a seat in Herne Hill ward in May, is standing for the Green Party.

Mr Graham, who used to work overseas in Darfur and the Congo as a humanitarian worker, said he would oppose the "sardine academy" proposed for the St Martin's estate.

He said: "We Greens are the only party that wholeheartedly defends public services and working people."

The Lib Dem candidate is Terry Curtis, who has lived in Tulse Hill for more than 50 years. He is chair of the St Martin's estate board, and the local safer neighbourhood panel.

He said: "Labour has taken this area for granted for too long. This is our chance to elect a real local champion, not another Labour politician after a safe seat."

The UK Independence Party candidate is Robin Lambert.