Peter Mandelson has been beaten by the Liberal Democrats in an online poll of Hartlepool Mail readers.

The cyber victor with 29 per cent of the virtual votes, Lib Dem Nigel Boddy, told ePolitix.com: "The only poll that matters is the poll on election day. I would urge everyone in the name of democracy to go out and make their voice heard."

"But it's up to Labour to get their vote out or it is anybody's," he said.

Knocked in to second place, on 26 per cent, by the poll of 1400 Hartlepool Mail readers, Mandelson dismissed the result.

"In this election it is a choice between Labour and the Tories," he said.

Mandelson's view is shared by the town's bookmaker, John Joyce, who puts Boddy on 66 to one - the same odds as Arthur Scargill.

Peter Mandelson is 10 to one on for the seat and Tory Gus Robinson makes odds of nine to two against.