In a carefully timed intervention in the election campaign, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the parties against using the "politics of fear" as polling day looms.

Rowan Williams told the BBC that it would be wrong if the campaign became a bidding war about who could most frighten voters.

His comments came as all parties continued to sling mud in what appears set to become one of the most bitterly contested elections of recent times.

Senior police chiefs also weighed into the debate with an attack on the Tories' use of "misleading statistics" on crime.

That came after Howard said a growing "yob culture" was turning town and city centres into no-go areas at night and weekends.