But today we learn that people in parts of East Lancashire can not receive many of the TV channels most of us take for granted.

And, not only that, it could be more than five years before they can tune in properly to the likes of Channel 5.

The Government is planning to switch off normal television after 2010, which will leave licence payers relying on digital signals.

But many areas in Darwen and Rossendale cannot receive such a signal thanks to the surrounding landscape, with hills blocking transmissions.

Now a Government minister has revealed that nothing will be done to improve the situation until the switch-off is carried out.

Not surpisingly, MP Janet Anderson, a former Broadcasting Minister, and local residents have hit out at the decision.

Is the Government really saying it can do nothing about a few hills for five years?

Or is it that a constituency which meant so much to the Labour Party when it was identified as a key marginal seat in the General Election, has been neatly pushed to one side once more?

One can't help thinking that if TV reception had been made an election issue, the people of Rossendale and Darwen would have been put in the picture much sooner.