LAWNMOWER-GATE is quite literally being played out at County Hall, where leader Adrian Hardman reveals he doesn't support obsessive trimming of all the roadside verges around Worcestershire - despite his other half.

"I myself am against the 'Surrey-isation' of the county, where everything has to be trimmed neatly, but my wife is from that area and is a fan of that sort of appearance," he says.

Talk about a domestic turf war.

* CONSERVATIVE Councillor John Campion will surely be red hot favourite to become the region's new police and crime commissioner next May, but The Source is sure it won't be a walk in the park.

Dan Walton, who contested West Worcestershire at this year's General Election, is known to be considering entering the contest for Labour - having already performed one minor miracle by helping build a proper branch in the constituency virtually from scratch.

* LOVE is all around us in parliament, with Worcester MP Robin Walker and Labour Councillor Joy Squires, who stood against him at the elections, meeting up this week in aid of Kinship carers.

The formidable rivals spent the entire spring going for just one job, but it's clear we can all move on now without any nostalgic recriminations.

"Peace and love in Worcester politics", Robin tells us with a chuckle.

* WORCESTER'S crucial impending decision on whether developers should build a £150 million out-of-town shopping park is exercising many minds right now - but a solution of sorts is at hand.

Insiders in the industry say David Blake, the city council's economy guru, told one investor not to be too concerned about the future of Worcester's existing retail parks at sites like Blackpole - as they could be flogged for housing instead.

Deary me.

* A NEW "sceptical supergroup" of musically talented Tory MPs has been formed who hope to enter the Eurovision Song Contest - with the Wyre Forest's Mark Garnier on the bass.

The group, which is still recruiting, is being led by Andrea Jenkyns, a professional soprano who topped Ed Balls in May.

Have they found an MP on the fiddle yet?