IT may not happen but if the forecasters are accurate when the votes are counted after the General Election we could be staring into the abyss - no clear winner and an unwillingness of the parties to compromise.

The possibility of a stale mate must be exercising the minds of top civil servants and the palace advisers to the Queen.

My mind goes back to when the then King put it to Ramsay MacDonald to form a national government.

In 1931, MacDonald found it possible to do so but in present circumstances this may not be possible.

I have no idea what course should be taken but it strikes me forcefully that we are living in interesting times - and I am not thinking about the international situation.

G Bulmer, Billingham.