POLLSTERS may be finding it hard to predict the outcome of the General Election but in Minehead the political temperature is being tested by a bun fight.

Bakery Food in the town has been serving up iced buns in the colours of four of the leading political parties.

And yesterday (Thursday) the Tories had a one and half per cent lead in sales - even though candidate Ian Liddell-Grainger had yet to pop in and buy a bun - with Labour's Kathy Pearce, due to visit next week, in second place.

Liberal Democrat Theo Butt Philip, who snapped up a yellow iced treat on Wednesday, and Green Party hopeful Charles Graham, who has also tasted the political patisserie, were trailing behind.

Steve Wells, who owns Food with partner Dave Barnes, first came up with the idea of the Bun-o-Meter when John Major was leading the Conservatives back in 1992 - and the edible device successfully predicted the Tories' surprise win.

Mr Wells said he couldn't divulge exact numbers of sales for each party for fear of 'bun-rigging' claims: "All I can say is, people in the town are really getting into the spirit of it.

"We've had people from offices and businesses taking back a selection of the buns for their colleagues to choose which one to eat and it's certainly proving to be a good talking point."

Pictured from the left are Tasha Smith, Paul List, Jackie Barnes and Tom Wedlake.

Other candidates standing in the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency are Peter Hollings (UKIP), Donna Treanor (BNP) and Bob Cudlipp (Independent).

* Election news - Page 6

Photo: Steve Guscott