HERE are some election myths: one, that it's a two horse race between the Tories and Labour.

Of course, both the Tories and Labour would love you to believe this; it makes their jobs so much easier.

If you think that the opinion polls back this myth up, please remember that it is the birth right of every Englishman and woman to lie through their teeth to opinion pollsters. The only poll that matters happens on May 7.

Myth two: a vote for such-and-such a candidate is a wasted vote.

Nonsense, the only way to waste your vote is not to use it. Be sure that you use your vote on May 7.

Myth three: that there is no "none of the above" option.

You have always been able to show that none of the candidates are worth voting for. Simply rotate your voting slip 90 degrees and write across the voting boxes, in big bold friendly letters, 'none of you are worthy of my vote', or words to that effect. But please only use this as a last resort.

Myth four: if voting changed anything, they'd ban it.

While this makes a great T-shirt slogan, it is demonstrably false. From the Welfare State of the 1940s to the neo-liberal revolution in the 1980s, all of the changes happened because people voted for them.

So, on May 7 do the most grown up thing you can do with your clothes on - vote.

Tony Pattison, Darlington.