THE numbers game is set to hit homes across the district as the team of recruits carrying out this year's national census pay a visit.

The 115 Wyre Forest census enumerators took to the streets with their yellow bags and identity badges on Monday and each will call on 300-400 homes to personally deliver the form in preparation for census day on Sunday, April 29. Census distribution managers John McCarthy, Allison Preece and Ann Lee launch the 2001 count.

Enumerators will be able to answer any questions about the form, which by law must be completed by all residents and returned in the pre-paid envelope.

One of the three census distribution managers, John McCarthy, said: "It is vital everybody completes the form because the Government, councils, businesses, schools and hospitals cannot plan properly for the future if they do not get the correct information about the population.

"There are about 40 questions covering all sorts ranging from job descriptions to people's health and ethnicity."

He added farmers affected by the foot and mouth outbreak would be telephoned by a census organiser to ensure their details were included.

Requests for extra forms and inquiries about the census, which is held every 10 years, can be made by calling the Census Helpline on 0845 301 2001.