THE battle for Bury North and South began in earnest this week, as the parties officially launched their election campaigns.

Nationally manifestos were published, party leaders were out in the provinces and on their soap boxes, the national media was full of soundbites, promises and accusations.

Here in Bury the campaign was free of men dressed as chickens, soap boxes, battle buses or people platforms.

We did have the first of what Labour call "Key Campaigners" - big name politicians coming to town to give their support to local candidates.

Labour was first off the mark on Tuesday with treasury spokesman Alistair Darling on the stump with David Chaytor in Ramsbottom, and then Ivan Lewis in Whitefield.

The Tories were next with Ann Widdecombe, minister for prisons, meeting Homewatch members in Hollins in the company of Bury North MP Alistair Burt.

They were the big names of the week, and are unlikely to be the last.

But for the rest of the week it was bread-and-butter doorstep campaigning for the candidates. Posters are sprouting up in gardens, appearing in porches and windows, and leaflets are being pushed through door after door.

In Bury South, sitting MP David Sumberg made one public appearance, while Ivan Lewis opened a new office, and Liberal Democrat Vic D'Albert took the opportunity to deliver his party's message there.

Mr Burt and Coun D'Albert became the latest candidates to be formally adopted by their parties at meetings on Wednesday evening. Labour made the formal nominations last week.

Next week TV crews are expected in the borough as the national media spotlight falls on the two key marginal seats.

More big names are promised, but advance publicity of who, where and when is not forthcoming, with security coming first.

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