Rumours continue to sweep around Reading about a change to the political make up of the council after enigmatic messages started appearing on Councillor Chris Maskell's web site.

Lib Dems are worried that if Labour members continue to wake up and smell the Workhouse Coffee Company coffee at the current rate that they will soon be the fourth largest group on the council. Labour are terrified that the construction of the David Sutton Memorial White Elephant in Hosier Street will be put on hold, whilst the Conservative Party are bricking themsleves at the thought that they might end up in power before collecting enough fag packets to write all their policies down on.

However, Mick Spreader managed to doorstep the illusive councillor and he told us that he couldn't see what all the fuss was about. We asked him about the mysterious time posted on his website, 2nd August 4.00pm, and he told us: It's just a warning to my constituents to tell them that it is in fact the start of the first period in history when Allied Carpets are not having a sale. Get there early.