KNOCKING on doors can be an unrewarding experience for politicians.

The door opens and a disinterested or disinclined householder administers either a rant on the state of the nation or simply slams it in the poor MP's face.

This week, Peter Luff had an altogether different experience.

He bumped into an old adversary and picked up some very interesting information.

Now, MPs rarely knock on a door blind. They check the electoral register so they at least have some information about who they are about to meet.

But the electoral register is not up to date, so the man who opened a door in Crowle was not who Peter was expecting.

It was David Bannister - who fought an unsuccessful campaign against Peter at the 2001 General Election.

"He opened the door and I said: 'I know you'," said Mr Luff. "It turns out he had recently moved into the house. It was most informative."

So what did Mr Luff learn? Well he had heard rumours that Mr Bannister was thinking of quitting the Labour party over the war on Iraq.

But there had been no confirmation of what is, after all, an interesting snippet of political news.

"I said 'I have got one question for you' and I asked him. He confirmed he was quitting the party," said Peter.

Mr Bannister, who was a city councillor for St Nicholas ward from 1998 to 2002 in Worcester, said he thought Worcester people were against war with Iraq without UN backing.

This not just a decent piece of gossip for Peter, though. It confirms he will face a different challenge at the next General Election, which is expected in 2005.

Mr Bannister can hardly try to wrestle Peter's Mid-Worcestershire seat away if he is not a member of a political party any more.