A GRIEVING father standing against the Prime Minister has delivered a letter to Tony Blair's North-East home demanding a public debate on the war in Iraq.

Reg Keys, the Independent candidate for the Sedgefield constituency, called at Myrobella, in Trimdon Colliery, County Durham, yesterday to request an open discussion about the legitimacy of the war.

Mr Keys, whose Redcap son, Tom, was killed by an Iraqi mob at Al Majar Al Kibar in 2003, said: "I am challenging Tony Blair to meet me, and the other Sedgefield candidates, on a public platform with audience participation to address the many unanswered questions about the war.

"Such a catastrophic political blunder cannot merely be put to one side."

As Mr Blair was busy launching the Labour Party manifesto, Mr Keys, whose supporters include war correspondent and former MP Martin Bell, and musician Brian Eno, met his agent, John Burton, instead.

Mr Burton said: "I will send his request to the people who prepare Tony's election timetable."

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party's deputy leader, Melodie Staniforth - alias Boney Maroney - will also stand for election in Sedgefield.

While canvassing in the constituency yesterday, Mrs Staniforth visited William Hill bookmakers, in Newton Aycliffe, to place a bet on herself to pull in 150 votes on election day.

She said: "I'm standing in the General Election because it is my democratic right to, and we need to keep democracy alive in Sedgefield and around the country.

"If I win my bet, I'll donate £100 to the Cats Protection League in Newton Aycliffe, in memory of the party's late cat, Cat Mandu."

* In our article yesterday about the anti-war candidates standing in Sedgefield, County Durham, we mentioned Jonathan Cockburn, of the New Socialist Party.

Mr Cockburn has changed the name of his party to the Blair Must Go Party, which is how it appears on his election literature.