THE waiting is over and so - nearly - is the seemingly endless media coverage of the 1997 General Election.

And both major parties brought the heavyweights to the Fylde this week in a last minute bid to persuade local voters to back their bids for power.

Certainly Chancellor Kenneth Clarke believes that what happens today in Lancashire will be vital for the final result.

He told Blackpool and Fylde editor Bob Gray that readers of the 12 Citizen titles throughout Lancashire could point the way to the result of not only this but future elections.

Mr Clarke said: "There are a host of marginals in your circulation area and recent boundary changes mean they could swing either way.

"This means we can look at results in Lancashire to help predict the way future General Elections will go.

"I used to think Bolton and Bury gave us a clue to which way the electorate would go but now there are so many other parts of Lancashire which are vital."

Mr Clarke braved the high winds to take in the view from the top of Blackpool Tower after having a try on the famous Wurlitzer organ in the ballroom.

But it was Labour deputy John Prescott who received a chilly welcome from at least one drinker when he visited the Cutty Sark pub in Fleetwood the same day.

The forthright politician was interrupted in the middle of his party patter by heckler Terry Barcock, who described the Labour line as "rhubarb".

His taunts were immediately drowned out by catcalls from the partisan crowd, but nothing daunted Mr Prescott insisted Mr Barcock be allowed to speak.

After a few minutes, the fisherman was bundled out by the crowd after he began swearing out the Labour deputy.

Mr Prescott went on to tell listeners that Fleetwood deserved a Labour Government to protect local jobs and urged them to back former county councillor Joan Humble, who is standing in the marginal Blackpool North and Fleetwood seat.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.