SOME light-hearted quotes from the election in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency would not go amiss today even though all the serious shouting is over.

Labour's Ashok Kumar was asked at a public meeting at Saltburn who was his favourite Opposition politician. "Ken Clarke - the greatest leader of the Conservative Party it never had," he replied.

"Whenever I see that he is speaking I always listen as he has good, sensible ideas."

Conservative candidate Mark Brooks was asked by Saltburn vicar, the Rev Guy Donegan-Cross, who chaired the meeting at Emmanuel Church, which Opposition politician he would like to join him on holiday.

"I'd like to invite Arthur Scargill, the former miners' leader, to go out for a drink. But I'm not sure about a holiday!"

Lib-Dem candidate Carl Minns, a young Hull councillor with Teesside roots, was asked which party leader, Tony Blair or Michael Howard, he would select to accompany him for a "wild night on the town."

"Tony," he replied. "I bumped into him once and he is likeable. He's probably a decent person."

What a change that final remark is after all the hot air of the last few weeks - but also note the "probably".

Disaster averted

WELL done to the organisers of last weekend's Dales Festival of Food and Drink at Leyburn who might at one point early on Sunday afternoon thought disaster was looming.

The field was turning to treacle, the mist was thickening, Leyburn town centre was gradually grinding to a virtual standstill with traffic and a key star guest, Richard Whiteley, was struggling to beat off the flu.

But thanks to the good humour of all concerned, especially the thousands who battled through the weather and traffic to reach foodie heaven, the impending crisis never materialised and even the sun came out, albeit weakly, later in the day.

Welcome formality

WELL done, also, Mrs Brown - not only for leaving £112,000 to the Friends of Richardson Hospital in Barnard Castle, but also for maintaining her dignity to the last, by insisting on being called "Mrs Brown".

It can't have been easy, in the face of today's over-familiarity, but Mrs Brown was of a generation where even close friends might retain the formality of "Miss" and "Mrs" with each other. Her objection to being called "Ethel" by those young enough to be her grandchildren is quite understandable. Pity she was not allowed that last bit of dignity at her funeral.