A May 3 election looked more certain on Wednesday after strong rumours emerged from Labour's Millbank HQ suggesting the party was on a firm footing for a May poll.

Labour insiders have been told to be "ready for April 5 but keep May 3 in their minds".

The statement is a further sign that Tony Blair will be calling an election on April 5 - with a short, intense four week campaign leading up to polling day on May 3.

The Labour Party remained coy on the exact timing of the election with a spokesman saying the election date was "a matter for the prime minister" although other ministers, including Mo Mowlam, have let slip in the past that the party is set for a May election.

A Conservative spokesman said the timing of the poll was unimportant. "One rumour we'd heard was that Labour has told local campaigners to be ready for May 10. The logic is that they could point to a disastrous result on May 3 as a way of getting their voters out. It actually doesn't't matter when Blair calls it - we're ready now," he said.

A member of the Liberal Democrat campaign team said the party was similarly prepared for Charles Kennedy's first nationwide test since becoming leader. "We're ready whenever Labour chooses to call the election. We don't stop campaigning. We are currently in a 'phoney war' so the sooner we get into proper campaigning the better," the spokesman said.

Bookmakers William Hill is currently giving odds of 8/15 on the election taking place in May 2001. April is 13/8, June is 16/1 and October has odds of 12/1. May 2002 is offered at 14/1 with both March and April 2002 rated at 25/1.