CANVASSING is thirsty work, so it would seem, and we all know a call of nature can come at any time.

So it is with a wry smile that news reaches The Insider that one of a group of activists out knocking on doors in Barton recently was, er, caught short while on the job.

Not being a particularly leafy suburb, the individual concerned had little choice other than to make use of one of the estate's alleyways.

IT WILL not come as an almighty surprise to read that while Conservative Party leader David Cameron cycles to work to showcase his green credentials, a chauffeur-driven car follows behind him carrying the Witney MP's polished shoes, freshly-pressed suit and important files.

But similar acts occur at Oxfordshire County Council most days of the week.

While the authority's Tory leader Keith Mitchell and his cabinet sidekick David Robertson, who is in charge of transport matters, extol the virtues of Oxford's public transport, they happily drive into the city to park their respective BMW and Jaguar cars in plum positions outside County Hall, a stone's throw from the city centre.

LABOUR has used a cunning way of drumming up support in Greater Leys and Blackbird Leys for today's elections delivering handwritten letters from residents urging would-be voters to back their candidates.

The heart-warming letters, penned and signed by those living in the area, read "I'm not in the habit of writing letters like this, but..." before waxing lyrical about the respective candidate.

But if you look very closely in the corner, very small writing discloses the letters have been printed and promoted by Labour agents on behalf of their candidates.

RATHER like Jehovah's Witnesses, election candidates need to be braced to have front doors slammed in their faces.

But some just don't help themselves, as one city councillor found out this week.

A gentle tap at a front door was answered by a dripping wet, bare-chested man with a towel around his waist, who hurriedly explained he had jumped out of the shower to answer the door, was about to go out and the candidate would not get his vote anyway.

Later that evening the conscientious councillor revisited the street in an attempt to canvass houses he had earlier missed.

However, he inadvertently rang the doorbell of the irate man he had already encountered.

Sadly, we cannot tell you what was said when the councillor asked for his vote.

ELECTION day is upon us and there was still no sign of Charles Steel, the Conservative candidate for Holywell ward, who is at the centre of an investigation into possible election fraud.

Calls to Mr Steel, the president-elect of Oxford University Conservative Association, for answers as to why some signatures on his official nomination papers were allegedly forged have gone unanswered.

However, The Insider is assured Mr Steel who is still an official candidate will be at tonight's count.