A CABINET minister said it is too soon to say who would win the race to be mayor of Middlesbrough.

"In a sense it is early days," Transport Secretary Stephen Byers admitted on a visit to the town.

He said he wanted the residents to vote for the Labour hopeful, law lecturer and local councillor Sylvia Connolly.

The minister said he had every confidence that, if elected, she would do a good job, adding: "Over the next few weeks, the people of Middlesbrough will be able to look at what the candidates have to offer, their policies, their individual ability, track record, and make a judgement."

He denied suggestions that his visit was an indication of how seriously Labour views the threat of former detective superintendent Ray Mallon getting the electorate's vote on May 2.

He said: "I have been earlier today to Hartlepool and North Tyneside. I am supporting Labour mayoral candidates."

When asked if he saw an irony in the then opposition leader Tony Blair visiting the town, several years ago, to be photographed shaking the hand of Mr Mallon, then head of Middlesbrough CID, he said: "That's life."

The deputy leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Alan Beith, met his party's mayoral candidate, Coun Joe Michna, at Middlesbrough bus station yesterday.

Coun Michna is calling for campaign from all political parties, community groups and local businesses to resist any attempt by Consignia to close post offices in the town.

Other contenders for the mayoral post are charity worker Rod Jones, Conservative Ron Darby, and Socialist Alliance candidate Jeff Fowler.