THERE was a sense of deja vu about Hartlepool yesterday.

Reporters and TV crews from around the world descended on the North-East town just as they did 25 months ago - the first time Peter Mandelson resigned from the Government.

The town - which once famously hanged a monkey as a French spy - was under siege from the Press pack desperately seeking a fresh twist to the latest resignation.

There were TV crews camped outside council offices, reporters at every street corner trying to get a comment from the town's residents, and radio interviewers vying for the attention of shoppers wearily making their way home in the unusual winter sunshine.

Russell Hart, leader of the local Labour Group, held an impromptu Press conference inside the civic centre.

Journalists, who missed out on the start, scrambled to hear what he had to say. If they were hoping to hear a call for Mr Mandelson to go, they were disappointed.

"Peter Mandelson remains our candidate at the next election. He continues to have the confidence of the Labour Party and continues to have my confidence as the leader of the Labour Group on Hartlepool Borough Council."

They had more luck trawling the streets for ordinary folk.

Market trader John Osbourne, 33, said: "Mandelson deserves everything he got.

"He should have been asked to leave or resigned for good after that fiasco over his home loan. He has been living on borrowed time since then.

"In five years, I have only ever seen him once. It is time for a new face to come into the fold. We need a local person with knowledge about the town who has an affinity with us."

His partner, Christine Younger, 31, agreed.

She said: "He came around the doors when he wanted to be voted in, but since then I've seen nothing of him.

"I would like to see someone else get his job."

The general feeling around the town seemed to be one of shock. Many people were unaware that their MP had resigned as Northern Ireland Secretary.

It is the second time Mr Mandelson has resigned as a cabinet member. In 1998, he resigned as Trade and Industry Secretary over suggestions he failed to declare a home loan from millionaire Labour colleague Geoffrey Robinson.

Then, he enjoyed the unstinting support of his constituents, who backed their MP in the face of calls for him to step down.

Yesterday, it seemed as though many of his weary supporters had simply had enough.

Retired builder David McKie, 65, a Labour voter all his life, said: "I've never trusted the man and he's finally got his comeuppance.

"I only hope now he does the honourable thing and stands down at the next election. It is about time we had someone who genuinely supports Hartlepool as its MP."

Hartlepool was once considered a safe Labour seat. Now people aren't so sure.

Just last year, disenchanted voters overturned the Labour majority on the local council - the first time in 21 years.

Mr Mandelson's own agent, Councillor Stephen Wallace, was among the casualties, along with the then mayor councillor Ron Watts.

Labour's declining popularity was echoed by 69-year-old William Bulmer, who vowed never to vote Labour again, and Tony Kelly, 24, who said maybe Mr Mandelson will now quit as the town's MP.

Retired Catherine Wright, 77, said: "He's brought shame and embarrassment on the Labour Party and his close friend, Tony Blair."

Barbara Webster, 37, said: "You often feel there is no smoke without fire, but you can't judge anything without knowing the full facts."

Ironically, these comments are likely to wound Mr Mandelson far more than anything he heard from the Opposition benches, yesterday.

He prides himself on being a good constituency MP.

The last time he resigned, the first call he made after leaving Tony Blair was to The Hartlepool Mail. He did it, he said, because he wanted to explain to his constituents the reasons for leaving Government.

At least he can take comfort in the fact that not everyone hoped he would step down at the next election.

Dan Wilkinson, 28, blamed the media for hounding the MP out of office.

He said: "I don't think he should have resigned. He has had a very hard time of it, as he seems to be an easy target.

"I do not think this is that big a thing. It is easy for people to get a bee in their bonnet when they start something and keep going on and on.

"However you wouldn't expect him to get into this sort of mess when he helped spin Labour stories so effectively."

Mr Mandelson said he had bowed out to escape the media and controversy that surround-ed his career in the hope of leading a normal political life.

Judging by the mood of voters yesterday, even if he chooses to stay and fight for the Hartlepool seat his reign could well be short-lived.

"A man is only as good as his word," retired school teacher Alan Low, 57, said, pointedly