Spectator's colleague who edits the letters page of this newspaper is disappearing under a welter of faxes from the region's politicians and would-be politicians.

The e-mails are stacking up in a way only e-mails can. They may not be on pieces of paper but they accumulate in an equally threatening way.

In case anybody hadn't noticed, an election campaign is underway. It may not have been officially called but nevertheless it is in full swing.

In case those politicians and other political animals are wondering why their letters have not been published, we thought it best to say we have a temporary ban on political, non-local letters, until the election is officially called.

So all those who feel the urge to take Mr Hague, Mr Blair and anybody else to task on general political matters should save their ink or telephone charges. They'll be plenty of time for that.

Things to come?

Spectator passed through the temporary one-way system set up in the centre of Northallerton a couple of times this week and was surprised to find the delays - particular on one occasion at peak tea-time - to be gratifyingly short.

In fact it took no longer than if stopped at the one of the town's level crossings.

Which begs the question, will a permanent one-way system be considered for the town once more?

Working on

Although cynical remarks are legion about Darlington football club's new stadium being built beside the A66 outer ring road, credit should be given to the workmen currently on the site.

Despite the recent bad weather, activity has been non-stop and Spectator noted with astonishment the number of men busy at 7.45 on Wednesday morning when the all-night rainstorm was still in progress. We don't suppose club chairman Mr Reynolds is paying them overtime either.

Up the creek

WHEN winter decided to have another fling on Sunday morning, traffic in Darlington town centre was moving fairly gingerly round the inner ring road. There was, therefore, time to notice, and speculate on the purpose of, the small, red hatchback with a snow-covered canoe on its roofrack.