YOU can see how canvassing on a beautiful, sunny day in Halstead is not too trying for Malcolm Fincken, the Labour hopeful for Braintree.

The town councillor is on home turf and the view from the top of the hill on Parker Way, looking across the town, is nothing less than pleasant.

But not everyone thinks Mr Fincken is a breath of fresh air.

He said: “I was canvassing in Bocking once and a woman did say ‘May you rot in hell’.

“You get used to it, but it’s a shame really, because there are members who would go out canvassing but they get worried.”

No such drama here, where the biggest problem Mr Fincken encounters is from residents keen to direct him away from selling his General Election message on to local concerns like unkempt Greenfields lawns.

Other residents are very supportive.

George and Ann Burrows, 82 and 78 respectively, said they have been Labour voters all their lives.

Mr Burrows said: “I think there needs to be more social housing for younger people, because a lot of them will never be able to buy.”

Mr Fincken agrees.

He also stops and talks to Vivien Alexander, 62, who said: “All I hear from people is Labour let in all the foreigners.

“Well, where are they all in Halstead?”

One woman, who was happy to chat to the campaign team in her dressing gown, said she was undecided between Labour and Ukip, mainly because she likes Nigel Farage.

At this, Mr Fincken swung into action.

“Nigel Farage wants to cut taxes for the very wealthy, I think you have got Labour values so you should vote Labour,” he told her, and she seemed to agree.

Has Mr Fincken encountered enough support across the district to overturn the Tory’s 16,000 plus majority?

He said: “There are no safe seats.

“You have got to keep in contact with people, the good thing about the smaller parties coming into the fray is it keeps everybody on their toes.”