WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's incoming 'interim' chief executive, the well-travelled Stephen Stewart, led the creation of a unitary council for Northumberland in 2009 which saw seven smaller authorities abolished.

Does this mean the Grim Reaper is finally lurking for Worcestershire's impoverished, shrunken district councils?

Answers on an austerity postcard.

* CLEARLY 'taking advice from Donald Trump' is Tory Councillor Lucy Hodgson, who almost brought Worcestershire to its knees last week.

The energetic politician tried to use her Twitter account to congratulate Malvern police over their efforts to combat metal thefts, but missed off a crucial full stop.

"Glad to hear there have been a number of thefts from village churches across the county," she tweeted to her horrified followers - before clarifying that there should have been a full stop after the word 'hear'.

* MIND you the perils of social media can engulf anyone, as Worcester Green Party found this week.

The branch forgot to switch off its automated Twitter feed on Wednesday, meaning it was still pumping out political guff despite all electioneering being suspended.

* A DEBATE on zero hours contracts unfolded during Monday's Cap 'n' Gown pub hustings, with Worcester's would-be MPs rubbishing the damn things.

But pub landlord Ted Marshall was keen to show them the other side of the coin - after awkwardly admitting he employs two bar staff on the deals to help keep his business afloat.

"I'm against zero hours contracts on principle, except for landlords," he quipped.

* SPARE a thought for Worcester General Election candidate Mark Shuker, who is on the verge of losing his deposit again just like in 2015.

But at least he's realistic about it, as he told the Cap 'n' Gown faithful.

In a classic understatement, the independent declared: "It's not an ambition of mine to get into politics."

* UKIP activist James Goad is also rising up the league table of political humour, even though he's not standing in this particular election.

Filling in for UKIP city candidate Paul Hickling on Monday, he observed sarcastically to roars of laughter: "My party's done me a 'massive' favour by not announcing our manifesto until Wednesday."