Have You Got What it Takes to Make People Laugh? Organisers of next year's Reading Borough Council Elections are looking for people who are up for a laugh.

The competitions will take place mostly on Tuesdays at the Kennet Room in the Civic Offices. Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport, said: "This competition is a real opportunity for up and coming comedy talent to shine. From David Sutton sticking up for the one way IDR to Steve Waite insisting the alternate bin collections are a great success, there are plenty of laughs to be had. The whole event will be photographed by Jon Hartley, but be prepared for some heckling... Richard Stainthorp will be there to hand out verbal abuse."

Comedy isn't just confined to the Labour benches. Bob Green's attempts to add amendments to council motions are renown for their inventive use of the English language, whilst Tory speakers fight amongst themselves to claim credit for the most ludicrous schemes.

If you think you are the next Jon Howarth, Rik Willis or Gareth Epps, go along to the Open Election Competition heats at Rivermead and show the judges what you can do.

Festival Organiser John Painter told us: "Why not ask your friends to hand over their postal votes to you if they can't attend. We'll accept any vote as valid even if the police tell us there has been fraud."