FREE with this week's column, the first part of my super-duper 20-page election pull-out with all you need to know to help you through the four exciting weeks ahead. Including:

Pages and pages of colour charts and extremely complicated-looking graphics. They won't mean a thing to anyone, but they look very impressive.

Our astrologer reveals what June 7 holds for our politicians. He predicts what Blair will have for breakfast, what colour shirt Hague will be wearing and whether Peter Mandelson will be having a bad hair day. (But he can't tell us who wins - that would spoil the fun, wouldn't it?)

Three weeks in the life of an ordinary voter. Our sketch writers follow Shildon man Tommy Cross 24-hours a day to discover how an election campaign affects the everyday life of the man on the street, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by agonising second.

A top psychologist analyses the body language, vocal range, socks and nasal hair of leading politicians and reveals that it probably doesn't really say that much about them at all.

Election makeovers. We invite a local Conservative ladies' club to dress Blair. They transform him into a blond, wearing an exciting nautical outfit. Meanwhile, young Labour voters suggest a more casual look for Hague, with combat trousers, bandana and flip-flops.

Who exactly are the Liberal Democrats and why is everyone so keen to ignore them? (This article may be dropped if we can think of something more interesting to put in instead).

Does the poll booth really have to look so drab? We commission top TV personalities Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Carol Smillie to give it a 21st Century look.

Polls, polls and more polls. We will be questioning millions of people about everything you could possibly imagine, from what they will be wearing on polling day to what they're planning to eat tonight. Leading experts will be analysing our results and telling us the first things that come into their heads.

Liven up your poll card - we show how to make a funky-coloured plastic holder, complete with shoulder straps, to make your poll card fashionable and fun. Carry it with pride on June 7. But can you bear to put it into that little tin box?

We tell you what women think. We tell you what pensioners think. And we tell you what first-time voters think. At least, our 24-year-old political editor tells us what he thinks they think. We think.

From papier mach masks to cat litter tray liners - Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and other leading artists come up with one hundred and one uses for all those election leaflets that come through your door.

Background analysis: We profile the pets of our leading political figures, examine prime ministers' hairstyles through the ages and look at what else is on TV on election night.

From closing the curtains and pretending no one's at home, to claiming your hamster has just escaped - we reveal the top 20 excuses used by voters to avoid talking to candidates on their doorstep.

Had enough? We list hundreds of last-minute bargain breaks for those desperate to leave the country. (And, no, we're just not referring to those politicians who're on a hiding to nothing).

Congratulations! You have just got to the end of an article connected with the election. You are obviously a particularly politically astute and aware Northern Echo reader, extremely interested in everything to do with the election. Is your name Tony Blair or William Hague?

Published: 11/05/01