TERRIFYING, bloodcurdling screams could be heard in St John's earlier this week, where a wheelie bin conspiracy is doing the rounds.

Councillor Richard Udall, known as 'The Voice of St John's', was trying to manoeuvre his green bin into position during Worcester's mini-tornado and it fell on him, with the lid bursting open to send papers flying all over the place.

Our man's dear mother then rushed out to help and was wiped out in the melee too, leading to a trip to A&E nursing ankle and shoulder injuries respectively.

St John's biggest character is now sporting an awkward limp, although it could have been worse.

Was this a pre-election plot to silence The Voice?

* ROBIN Walker's General Election campaign manager Will Pryce told Labour Councillor Matthew Lamb he did "very well" inside the Cap 'N' Gown pub this week during the hustings interval.

If you're going to vote for the other side, don't tell the boss.

* TALKING of Robin, The Source is beginning to wonder if he's had the odd run-in with Russian spies in the past.

Only one month ago he memorably compared Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler, and this week he told the Cap 'N' Gown's sloshed regulars the Russian president is a "thuggish" bully.

Let's hope there isn't any ex-KGB lurking around Worcester.

* COUNCILLOR Lamb, who was filling in for Labour's Joy Squires, is actually a parliamentary candidate himself this year, aiming to end Mark Garnier's Wyre Forest empire.

During the hustings debate he said "I hate the SNP with a passion", bemoaning their fox-like tactics.

If only Ed would talk like this, eh.

* WORCESTER City Council agreed to sign up to an anti-smoking declaration this week, adding its considerable weight to eventually eradicating the filthy habit.

But agreeable avenue evaded two Tories, Robert Rowden and Chris Mitchell, who decided to abstain rather than have their names recorded in support of it.

Maybe their terms of office can be sponsored by Imperial Tobacco?

* UKIP has now suspended 18 councillors, 14 candidates, two MEPs, one national secretary, one youth secretary, one Scottish chairman and an entire local branch.

It's teething problems, you see.