FORMER Labour regional spin doctor Richard Costello, an influential figure around these parts before quitting a few months back, is causing a right rumpus down the road.

Mr Costello used to handle all the party's shadow ministerial visits in Worcestershire, but these days works for the West Midlands police and crime commissioner where his practising of the dark arts is making unwanted headlines.

After he accused the Birmingham Mail of "breaking protocol" by daring to use his name in the paper, the PCC's office has now banned them from asking any questions, saying it will only deal with their investigations hack via Freedom of Information requests.

Weren't Abbott and Costello a couple of famous clowns?

* DEPUTY Mayor of Worcester Mike Whitehouse has played a full part in the absorbing Tory v Lib Dem contest in north Worcester, which The Source likes to call the Battle of Claines - but it ain't half getting messy.

Earlier this month he told us how the saga of developing Gwillam's Farm was the reason he got into politics in the first place, saying it was an issue "worth fighting for".

Lib Dem activist Mel Allcott has now fired off a grumpy email to yours truly saying as treasurer of the campaign group, she "only recalls and indeed has documentation" of support from Liz Smith, Sue Askin and Ken Carpenter, the trio of former Claines Lib Dem city councillors who have now all been replaced by Tories.

Fight, fight.

* LEDBURY MP Bill Wiggin is celebrating a plum new role in the Commons as the boss of a strangely-named body called the 'Committee of Selection'.

Is this the next step to getting genetically modified MPs?

* ON the subject of MPs, despite there being 650 of them two of Worcestershire's just can't escape each other when down in London.

Robin Walker and Nigel Huddleston are now literally next door neighbours at Portcullis House, where the MPs offices are based.

Let's hope one doesn't catch the other pressing a glass against the wall.

* COUNCILLOR Fran Oborski has re-joined the Lib Dems, 19 years on from saying she'd been "forced out" due to a row with party colleagues over privatising OAP homes.

It's like the resurrection of Jesus.