Hartlepool could be turned into a Banana Republic - if the latest candidate to enter the race to be the town's directly-elected mayor gets his way.

Hartlepool United Football Club's mascot, H'Angus the Monkey, will this afternoon announce he is to become the fourth candidate in the contest.

And among his policies is a pledge to ensure schoolchildren in the town are provided with free bananas every day.

His campaign slogan will be: "Vote for H'Angus. He gives a monkey's."

Nominations to stand for the £50,000 post close at noon tomorrow.

H'Angus will become the first independent candidate to join the race, taking on the official party candidates, Leo Gillen (Labour), council leader Arthur Preece (Liberal Democrat) and Stephen Close (Conservative).

But election rules forbid "H'Angus the Monkey" appearing on the ballot paper, so 28-year-old Stuart Drummond - who for two years has filled the monkey costume at Victoria Park - will stand under his own name. However, Stuart intends to fight his campaign as H'Angus.

His manifesto vows to attempt to keep the Headland's doomed Friarage sports centre open, try to improve the town's poor sporting facilities and reduce the number of councillors in the town.

H'Angus said last night: "People have said for years that a monkey could be elected in Hartlepool - now we're going to find out. I've lived in the town all my life and it's about time the theory was put to the test. I am a genuine candidate."

It is understood that the football club, which has Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson as vice-president, is backing H'Angus, and will pay his £500 deposit. Hartlepool goes to the polls on May 2.