THE first official day of the Hartlepool by-election campaign was marked with activity from all the main parties yesterday.

One candidate protested about being described as "not local", despite being born in the town, while another promised to take less than half his salary should he be elected.

UK Independence Party candidate Stephen Allison marched on the Labour Party headquarters with his passport and birth certificate to counter claims he was an outsider.

Mr Allison, who was born in Hartlepool and lives on the outskirts of town, said his mother-in-law, Margaret Watson, was stopped three times in one day by Labour canvassers, who told her: "Our candidate is the only local one."

Mr Allison said: "If they are prepared to tell lies like this, how can we trust them on anything else?"

Labour candidate Iain Wright was joined by Drugs Minister Caroline Flint, who reiterated the claim that the Liberal Democrats' failure to back their tough measures make them soft on law and order.

Respect candidate John Bloom pledged to claim only the national average wage of £26,000 a year, compared to an MP's £54,486 because, he said, MPs should not enjoy a highly paid and privileged lifestyle.

Mr Bloom said the remainder -£28,486 - would be used to provide a high quality of service in the constituency.

The LibDem Shadow Pensions Minister, Professor Steve Webb, joined candidate Jody Dunn to promote their party's plans to give over-75s an extra £25 a week in their pensions.

Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Industry Stephen O'Brien joined candidate Jeremy Middleton on a tour to meet business leaders and small companies.

Mr Middleton said he would fight his campaign on three key issues -tackling crime, saving the town's hospital and standing up for Britain in Europe.

The by-election, prompted by Peter Mandelson's departure to Brussels as EU Commissioner, will be held on September 30.