DROITWICH Spa's General Election battle is a foregone conclusion, according to an independent electoral monitoring group.

Mid-Worcestershire is one of 445 constituencies where the most recently elected party is virtually guaranteed to win again on June 7, claims the Electoral Reform Society (ERS).

The organisation, which campaigns for a proportional representation voting system, identified the Mid-Worcestershire constituency in its report New Parliament, Same Old Faces.

It said 214 of the country's 659 seats in Parliament are going to be closely contested.

Factors such as the majority at the last election, current opinion polls and the constituency's voting history were taken into account.

Tory MP Peter Luff won the Mid-Worcestershire seat in 1997 with a large majority of 9,142.

An ERS spokesman said: "A General Election should be the biggest event in British politics.

"But for many people, it's of little relevance because the result of the area is already known."

Conservative candidate Mr Luff said: "Although the report is very encouraging, I certainly won't take any vote for granted. The response on the doorstep is excellent."

Labour candidate David Bannister said: "The ERS made predictions at the last election -- several were wrong.

"Labour came a very strong second in 1997 and I believe we're in a good position to win this time."

Liberal Democrat candidate Robert Browne said: "A poll by Market Opinion Research International (MORI) in February said if people believed a Liberal Democrat could win - 38 per cent would vote Lib Dem.

"Many people in Mid-Worcestershire believe we're the only alternative to the Tories and we're on track to give Peter Luff a run for his money."