* The campaign in Rossendale and Darwen is fast turning into a soap opera, with two Coronation Street stalwarts taking opposite sides.

The Conservatives have enlisted the support of former valley resident William Roache, aka Ken Barlow, who gives a personal endorsement of candidate Jake Berry on their leaflets.

But Corrie fans will be faced with a dilemma, because Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, is pictured with Labour’s Janet Anderson on her flyers.

* English Democrats' Rossendale and Darwen candidate Michael Johnson was the surprised recipient of an apology from the Prime Minister for his “bigot-gate” gaffe.

Gordon Brown sent an email, meant for grass roots Labour activists, to the Fernhurst councillor.

“I know how hard you all work to fight for me and the Labour Party”, he wrote.

Mr Johnson said: “He is clearly so desperate to beat the Tories he needs my help.”

* Much has been made of the support Tory candidate Andrew Stephenson has or has not received from non-dom Lord Ashcroft in Pendle.

Ten years ago Mr Stephenson first encountered the peer’s generosity as a 19-year-old Tory volunteer.

“We were stuffing envelopes in central office, and he came and bought us all fish and chips. We didn’t know who he was,” he recalls.

* Does Burnley Tory candidate Richard Ali look familiar?

If so, it’s either because households in the town have been bombarded by his leaflets - or because his brother is BBC reporter Jonathan Ali.

* Speaking of famous relatives, UKIP’s Bobby Anwar, standing in Blackburn, is the nephew of actress Mina Anwar, star of TV police comedy The Thin Blue Line.