Conservative candidate Nicholas Alston, 60, is a former Royal Navy officer and son of a former Essex Police assistant chief constable. He lives in Chelmsford.
Independent Linda Belgrove lives in Alresford, Colchester, where she is a parish councillor. She has worked for a number of law firms as a senior legal secretary.
Labour's Val Morris-Cook is deputy leader of Thurrock Council. She moved from London 20 years ago and has worked in shops, owned her own business, sold boats, worked in customer care, sales and as a service manager for a vehicle company.
Independent Mick Thwaites is Yorkshire-born but served in three southern police forces – the City of London, the Met, and here in Essex. He has been a divisional commander at Southend and, in 2002, was temporary assistant chief constable of Essex. He retired as a chief superintendent.
English Democrats candidate Robin Tilbrook is a 54-year-old solicitor living in Willingale. He was a Coldstream Guard, worked in a factory as a junior manager and has taught at primary and secondary schools.
UKIP candidate Andrew Smith, 63, was the party's 2010 general election candidate in Epping Forest and is a finance director. He has worked in information technology, the legal industry, personnel, property and litigation management. He joined UKIP in 1999.
