The DUP has announced four new candidates for the forthcoming council election in Derry City and Strabane.
Chelsea Cooke and Niree McMorris will stand for the party in the Waterside area, with Julie Middleton and Gary Wilkinson set to stand in the Faughan area.
Of that group, only Niree McMorris is a sitting councillor having been co-opted on to the council in November.
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Last time around, the DUP returned a total of seven councillors in Hilary McLintock, David Ramsey, Graham Warke, Ryan McCready, Keith Kerrigan, Allan Bresland and Maurice Devenney.
But the party's headcount on the North West council has now fallen to just five following Ryan McCready's decision to jump ship for the UUP back in 2021 and Graham Warke's decision to quit the party to continue as an independent in June last year.
The party's Foyle MLA Gary Middleton welcomed the announcement, saying: “Chelsea, Niree, Julie and Gary represent a strong team of DUP candidates to represent the people of Londonderry.
"Current Waterside Councillor Niree McMorris will be joined by three new candidates, who are all under the age of 40. They bring enthusiasm and energy as well as a fresh perspective in articulating the needs of people across the waterside and surrounding rural communities."
He added: "They will look to build on the long standing track record of previous DUP public representatives."
The council is dominated by Sinn Fein and the SDLP, with each party holding 11 seats each.
The DUP's five seats places them in third place, ahead of their unionist rivals in the UUP with three seats, and Alliance and People Before Profit on two apiece.
Aontu holds one seat, with five independent councillors completing the 40-strong headcount.
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