The perils of glad-handing on the political trail were underlined on Tuesday when Labour’s Norwich North by-election candidate was struck down by swine flu, ruling him out of the final days of campaigning.

Chris Ostrowski collapsed and was rushed to hospital just hours before he was due to join Lord Mandelson – and a dozen toddlers – at a campaign event. Mr Ostrowski is now recuperating at home. His sudden illness has been the most dramatic turn in a race that has largely failed to capture the imagination of Norwich, Westminster or even bookmakers, who predict the Conservatives will easily win the seat on Thursday.