TODAY, half of Britain's 43 million voters are eligible to take party in elections to choose local councillors or newfangled mayors.

We urge every single one of them to do their utmost to cast their vote.

If people need any incentive to make the effort then they should look across the Channel.

Eleven days ago in France apathy ruled in the first round of the presidential election. Because of that, the country faces the choice between an incumbent that few people respect and a far right nationalist few people can stomach as head of state for the next seven years.

While politicians must bear much of the blame for low turn-outs, the public must share some responsibility.

Local government does matter. It impacts on everyone of us in our everyday lives.

Councillors and directly-elected mayors are expected, on our behalf, to run local services and spend millions of pounds of public money.

They help determine how our schools are run, how our streets are cleaned, how our old people are cared for, and how much council tax we pay.

When the opportunity arises we owe it to ourselves to have a say in how those duties are executed and who executes them.

Safer travel for schollchildren.

IT is a matter of great concern that some transport firms are prepared to use unsafe vehicles to take children to and from school.

We applaud recent action taken by Durham Police to crack down on operators who are prepared to risk the safety of young people. As well as succeeding in removing contracts from the worst offenders, it will also act as a deterrent to others.

There are lessons, too, for education authorities. They must be vigilant in vetting and monitoring school transport, to ensure standards are maintained.

There are suspicions that cost is the main factor used by authorities when they agree transport contracts.

Parents need to be re-assured that top priority is given to the safety of their children.