IMMORTALISED as the heart of Thomas Hardy's Wessex and 'birthplace' of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, North Dorset is well known for the rolling downlands and picturesque villages of the Blackmore Vale, the acclaimed Georgian architecture of Blandford Forum, for its wealth of ancient and medieval archaeology.

The parliamentary constituency of North Dorset was established in 1885 and it has represented by Conservative Party MPs since 1950, although a handful of Liberals were elected before that.

The constituency, which incorporates much of East Dorset, is largely rural and land use is dominated by dairy farming.

Major issues in the area chiefly concern housing and infrastructure, with a perceived shortage of social housing, the proportion of which is below the national average.

Residents have highlighted the state of the road network and specifically the need for improvements to the A350 as priorities, while candidates have promised more support for local businesses and farmers.

Other concerns are a lack of public transport, with ten per cent of households not owning a car, and the lack of nearby accident and emergency facilities.

The population was recorded in the 2011 Census as 95,831, of whom 22 per cent were aged at least 65, some way above the national average of 16 per cent.

Among households, 72 per cent owned their own property, while 26 per cent rented socially and privately, several points below the national average.

Among residents of working age, 38 per cent were in full-time employment and 15 per cent in part-time employment. Only 2.5 per cent were unemployed, again below the national average.

Major employers are retail, manufacturing, construction and health and education services.

The Liberals have been the chief competition for the Conservatives in the constituency. Labour first contested the seat in 1929, Ukip in 1997 and the Green Party in 2005.

Outgoing Tory MP Robert Walter won the seat four times - last in 2010 with a comfortable majority of 7,625 - but stands down this year.

 

Previous North Dorset MPs have included a polar explorer and Loch Ness monster researcher, a dog breeding expert and Crufts chairman, an expert on cereal crops, four knights, three Etonians, and four Oxonians.