HAPPY birthday to Worcester MP Robin Walker, who turned the incredibly young age (for an MP) of 36 last Saturday.

The energetic Conservative, who unlike many of his parliamentary colleagues still sports a trim waistline, is determined to avoid piling on the pounds despite the many temptations.

Not only did his latest milestone coincide with the city's chocolate day event last Saturday, he was guest speaker at a Worcester Warriors former players' bash that same day and was presented with a surprise birthday cake of the Houses of Parliament.

"I wasn't expecting it at all, the only problem was there was so much of it I couldn't eat it, my wife got me a cake too," he tells us.

The artistic parliamentary cake was eventually handed to some young carers Robin met at Perdiswell young people's club earlier this week - proof indeed that MPs CAN be generous.

Would Eric Pickles have done the same?

* THE local elections are taking place on Thursday, May 22 this year which is around three weeks later than usual because the powers-that-be wanted it to coincide with the European count.

The good news for all our council candidates is that they are likely to be knocking doors in very pleasant temperatures, compared to this time last year when record April lows, which included patches of snow on higher ground, formed a very hostile backdrop indeed.

But spare a thought for the majority of candidates who have started their campaigning at the usual time, but still face another five weeks on the doorsteps purely thanks to their European cousins, despite already running themselves well and truly ragged around Worcester.

That's ANOTHER thing you can blame Brussels for!

* RUMOURS make the world go around in politics, and one particularly funny one was that the Monster Raving Loony Party was considering standing a candidate in this region's MEP elections next month.

The party, which promotes policies like giving people with a stutter 20 per cent off their phone bills and offering teenagers named Grant free university education, tell us there are no such plans to get involved.

With that many nutty politicians around, Worcestershire surely doesn't need them anyway?

* TALKING about elections, if you do happen to come across a politician with a sweaty brow this month, don't assume it's because the count is on their mind.

Sir Peter Luff is a huge Chelsea fan, and if his beloved team wins their final four matches they will be crowned Premier League champions for the first time since 2010.

As this newspaper has reported before, in a weird coincidence the London flat Mr Luff rents is actually owned by Chelsea star Frank Lampard, one of his heroes.

End of season players party at your place then?