Can you put names to these five faces?

Downing Street wants town hall politicians to have more power, partly to boost their public standing, but also to raise the turnout in local elections.

However, the bid to end apathy towards who governs us at a local level will have to be pretty determined if it is to work in Worcester, where people don't seem to know - or care - who their leaders are. We took pictures of city MP Mike Foster, Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, city council leader Simon Geraghty, city Mayor Ian Imray and Bishop of Worcester Dr Peter Selby out on to the city streets.

The name of Councillor Simon Geraghty did not resonate with many on the street, even a well-read mature student who was able to name every other face we put to her.

"This is easy," said 57 year-old Christine Shaw, of Elm Green Close, Worcester, flicking through the five photos. "That's the MP Peter Luff, that's Mayor Ian Imray, that's Bishop Peter Selby, and that's MP Mike Foster. But I don't know who this is at all.

"I'm a mature student, and am really into current affairs. But I didn't recognise the leader."

If Coun Geraghty, the general running the whole ship at the Guildhall, was not familiar to her, most other people drew blanks at all five on our list.

Darren Oldridge, aged 40, a history lecturer from Battenhall Road, Worcester, said neither he nor any of his students would be able to name the people in the photos.

"I recognise the bishop, but I don't know his name," he said. "I don't know the others. Is that the mayor? I think he looks a bit like Sir Les Patterson to me, what do you think?

"Most of my students would not recognise who any of these people are at all. Many people don't take an interest in it."

Most people resorted to random guesses of who people were - even trying to put names to faces by the clothes they were wearing.

Christine Macbeth, 52, of Tanhouse Lane, Malvern, said Mike Foster "is probably an MP" because he was pictured wearing a tie.

"I've seen his face before. He is probably an MP, is that right? It is the tie that does it. I don't recognise any of the others at all. I just don't connect with them. Most people wouldn't know who the leader of the council is. I recognise the name Peter Luff though."

Eric Foster, 68, of The Butts, Worcester, said: "The only one I know is Mike Foster. I've seen him walking around the streets before.

"As for the rest of them, I'm not sure. Are they something to do with Parliament? The one with the chain could be the mayor, I think.

"I've got no interest in it at all. Trying to make them more powerful or popular wouldn't make a difference with me."

It is little wonder the Government is so eager to try and raise the profile of our local politicians when hardly anyone recognises them.

Bishop of Worcester Peter Selby - who we must point out is not in politics - and Worcester MP Mike Foster can be reasonably satisfied as people can often put names to their faces.

Paul Doherty, 28, of Henwick Drive, St John's, said: "I can recognise most of these. I know who Mike Foster is, and that's Peter Selby, the bishop.

"Is he the leader of the council? I have seen his picture in the Worcester News. It's Simon Geraghty. I recognise him. I recognise the mayor and Peter Luff the MP. I'm at university, and I would say most of my friends wouldn't recognise who these people are - most just aren't that bothered."

Coun Geraghty said he was not surprised only one out of five members of the public knew who he was.

He added the council was about to send a survey out to 1,000 of the city's residents over the next month to see if people knew the name of their local councillor.

He said: "We can always do more to provide information on councillors and that's why we're looking at having a residents' magazine hopefully to start in the new year.

"I've only been council leader for six months but if you have been leader for five years it's a different scenario as there's more time for it to set in people's mind who is running the council."