AS the General Election campaign gears up for its last week, all political parties are scrambling for those final few undecided voters.

Although pollsters are predicting a wide margin of victory nationally for Tony Blair's Labour party, the picture in Worcester is less clear cut.

According to a Worcester News survey of 1,000 people, if the election were held today the biggest winner by far would be the "don't knows".

With 28 per cent of the city electorate unable to make up their minds, and the three main parties within seven points of each other, victory is still quite clearly up for grabs.

To have such a large proportion of voters undecided at this late stage - despite the increasingly divisive campaign undertaken by the national parties - is surprising, but not too worrying.

What is far more concerning is the number of "not voting" answers our pollsters received out on Worcester's High Street.

Sixteen per cent of people declared that they have absolutely no intention of casting a vote next Thursday.

Such indifference is difficult to understand. We are sure that these people have opinions and concerns on those matters that affect all our daily lives - such as schools, health, or the economy.

But for some reason they are ready to spurn their opportunity to have a voice.

Our advice is, don't. This is what democracy is all about. It's your country and your future. You've got a vote. Use it.