As most people know I am passionate about volunteering. As well as doing it myself in various guises I am keen to make it as easy for others to do. It is a win-win for us all.

It is the same for our political parties. In Loughborough we have no paid party workers. Everything that comes through your doors is delivered by your neighbours. Those 35,000 telephone calls and knocks on the door around the constituency in the last year - they are all your neighbours who have given up their free time to volunteer for a political party. They get nothing back. No expenses. No rewards - just the hope of a Labour victory and the real fear they have of letting the Tories back in.

So you can understand why I am so pleased to see so many more volunteers at this election than at any time in the past. It is a wonderful sight for any voluntary organisation. Everywhere I go people are coming up to me to ask how they can help.

I get stopped in the street with more positive messages of personal support than I had even in the 1997 landslide. People ask for leaflets, they ask to help and hey take posters.

We even have the biggest Student Labour Club than at any time in recent history. I will be shocked if turnout is not increased this time.

But most of all I want to say a big THANK YOU to the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time to this election. With no paid staff we have more than matched the Tory millionaires! I am proud of you all.

So whilst all the focus in the media has been on the TV and Leaders debates spare a thought that the ground war is where it is really happening and that is nothing more than hard working unpaid volunteers!