I WAS in hysterics when my colleague told me that Bucks county councillors could be locked up for talking too loudly.

The council chambers are in the same building as Aylesbury Crown Court so members' chatter is prone to interrupting the more considered thoughts of judges.

The punishment could be as severe as a day in the cells for those councillors willing to risk being in contempt of court for not heeding the warning to be quiet.

Judge John Slack wrote a letter to chairman of the council Ken Ross after the loud voices of members leaving the chamber threatened to disrupt a criminal case going on at the time.

He said: "If this happens again I shall have to ask you to name three members to go into the cells until the end of the day."

Cllr Ross issued a warning to members and told councillors that the guilty ones knew who they were.

Although no one had the courage to admit it was them at the time.

A day in the cells may be a bit extreme for talking about the footie score in the corridors or ringing your wife.

But it could used for political advantage. If you want to reduce the Tory majority on the council encourage your rivals to be a bit boisterous.

Then when the note from the judge comes in just grass them up and by tea you should have a reduced majority on the committee you're attending.

IT would be a travesty if the general and county council elections are held on May 3. The foot and mouth crisis is spiralling out of control and all attention must be focused on fighting the disease.

MAFF has shown itself in recent weeks to be losing a grip of the situation.

At first, Agriculture Minister Nick Brown was given widespread credit but now the same farmers who supported him when the disease first reared its head are booing and cursing his name.

The situation can no longer carry on without the complete and focused attention of the Prime Minister.

Tony Blair has now taken the initiative to put himself at the forefront.

But if the general election does go ahead his contribution would be immediately diluted as he starts to flash those famous gnashers around the country. With Mr Brown back running the show, who knows if the crisis will ever end?

Some commentators argue that delaying the election would show the world that Britain is closed for business.

It's a risk that has to be taken.

We may be lucky so far in Bucks to have escaped the disease but as a predominately rural county, the politicians living here should be especially sympathetic to those farmers who have lost everything.