THERE seems to be no end in sight to the foot and mouth outbreak. Opinions are polarised.

One area of consensus - except in Downing Street - has been the calls to scrap plans for elections in May.

Of course, elections have been held in national emergencies - we were still at war with Japan when the country went to the polls in 1945. To call off an election would send out a message of grave crisis but there is a growing feeling that this is indeed a grave crisis.

True also that there are alternatives to voting at a polling station's ballot box. Postal votes could be issued as a matter of routine to all voters in affected areas. But there is still currency to be had from candidates knocking on the doors of rural houses to secure votes.

With the crisis now entering its fourth week, there seems to be no sign of abatement. The Prime Minister is right to wait until the last possible minute but pretty soon now a decision will be made. It would be statesmanlike to announce the postponement of all elections until the disease has been conquered.

There is certainly no groundswell of opinion desperate to re-elect our county councillors. A delay of a few weeks would hardly weaken democracy.