THE foot and mouth crisis has claimed the Radcliffe South by-election which has been put back to June 7.

Tony Blair's decision to delay the county council elections, and the anticipated General Election, means that the local poll has to follow suit and switch from May 3.

By Tuesday's (April 3) original closing day for nominations, three candidates had entered the ring. Defending the seat for Labour, following the retirement of Tony Watmough, will be Anthony Cummings of Marsden Walk, Radcliffe.

He will be challenged by Tory choice Peter Wright of Ringley Road West, Whitefield, and by Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Halsall of Dumers Close, Radcliffe.

However, the postponement means that there is still time for more candidates to come forward.

THE next General Election, at least in Bury, could be decided by the huge number of people who will NOT be visiting the polling booths!

Some 13,000 residents, three times more than normal, have asked for a postal vote.

They are taking advantage of new laws which mean that everyone can have a postal vote.

Town hall bosses in Bury are delighted with the take-up, prompted after they wrote to all households telling them of the change. They hope it will encourage a higher turnout.