IT’S been a very civilised election campaign with everybody trying to be very correct and nice to each other.

But a poster war is raging in sedate Balmoral Terrace, Saltburn. Labour candidate Tom Blenkinsop put up three yellow and red Vote Labour posters in the front window of his ground-floor flat at No 2 while next door at the Conservative Club members tied a 2ft by 10ft banner to the first floor simply with the name of their man Paul Bristow.

Meanwhile, 300 yards away at the corner of Hilda Place and Milton Street, a large Tory billboard poster has been defaced twice by Labour supporters. Tory Philip Thomson said this was “not helpful in a democratic society.” David Walsh, of the Labour Party, said “these things happen in an election.”

Clegg’s double?

Meanwhile, in the Richmond constituency, the Liberal Democrats are keen to make the most of the Clegg effect.

Angela Harris, or Baroness Harris of Richmond as she should be addressed, has drawn Spectator’s attention to the fact that their man – Lawrence Meredith – is remarkably similar to the party leader. They are practically the same age, both have worked for the EU in Brussels, both speak five languages, have Spanish wives and young sons.

Hot stuff

THE award-winning black puddings produced by Duncan Haig at his base at Dalton, near Thirsk, are much sought after. They turn-up on the menu at some of the poshest places, as my Eating Out colleague discovered at Wynyard Hall recently.

They are also a favourite at the Lodge at Leeming Bar, whose owner Carl Les, chuckled when he saw one of Mr Haig’s delivery vans the other day emblazoned with the message “No black puddings are kept in this van overnight”. Spectator liked the joke too.