THE fight to become the Mayor of Middlesbrough has taken an embarrassing turn for Labour after a party insider claimed they cannot beat the current incumbent - a month before the polls open.

A leaked email sent to the party's most senior officer in the North has revealed their concern that Ray Mallon, dubbed Robocop, cannot be beaten and the party should play a waiting game instead.

The email was sent to the party's most senior members on Teesside and national bosses, warning against selecting Labour's Mike Carr as the man to take on Mr Mallon.

Mr Carr put himself forward to fight for the town hall in March and is overwhelmingly backed by his party and seen as a popular local candidate.

However Fiona Stanton, Labour's regional director, was told via email that the party must consider Mr Mallon unbeatable and should accept the situation.

The email reads: "I'm well aware of the consensus amongst activists here that Ray Mallon would stand, and win, for what is thought to be his final term of office, by a substantial margin - and that it is in our best interests to fight a low-key mayoral campaign with a quietly credible candidate...and concentrate on consolidating and building our majorities across wards, and increasing councillor numbers, which we are devoting our efforts and resources towards."

But Mr Carr has hit out against the claims and said he feels the town is turning against the mayor and he can win the post.

Mr Carr said: "I can assure you that myself and the Labour Party are running a very active campaign here in Middlesbrough. I'm grateful for the support I've received from local Labour Party members.

"I've been campaigning around the town to expose the damage done by the Lib Dem-Tory Government and set out a positive vision for the future of the town.

"Many people are rightly disappointed by the failures of the Independent Mayor and Labour will be fighting for every vote between now and polling day.

"If people want to follow the advice in this email they will be proved wrong.

Ray has had his day."

Mr Carr, who has 16 years of experience in improving councils around the country, said he would like to change the council's constitution so that no future mayor can sit in office for more than two terms.

He said: "If you can't get it right in two terms you should find something else."

Last night a Labour North spokesman said: "Labour is running an active campaign to make Mike Carr the next Mayor of Middlesbrough.

"Mike was the clear choice of local members to be our candidate and over the last few weeks he has been campaigning in the community to expose the present Mayor's failures.

"Between now and May 5, Labour Party members will be campaigning hard to elect a Labour Mayor and Labour Councillors in Middlesbrough."