THE race to become the first elected mayor of Watford has started for real, with the declaration by Liberal Democrat candidate Dorothy Thornhill.

Her intention to stand was a poorly-kept secret, but the announcement - made during a visit to the YMCA in Watford by party leader Charles Kennedy on Friday, February 15 - means the first of the major contenders is in place.

Councillor Thornhill came out fighting, accusing Labour under Vince Muspratt of being excessively "authoritarian", failing to deliver on promises and neglecting democracy.

She accused him if making voters cynical of politicians and apathetic.

In turning her fire on Council Leader Muspratt, the Liberal tactics for the coming two months on the campaign trail became clear.

They will try to convince the electorate the Conservative party has no chance of victory. If this works, Tory voters wanting to keep their Labour foe Councillor Muspratt from winning, will vote Liberal Democrat.

The voting system, offering a first and second choice, will also favour the Lib Dems, according to the party's reckoning.

It is a logic the Conservative candidate, when one is selected, will have to fight against.

The launch of Dorothy Thornhill for mayor was also a chance to raise some cash for the campaign war chest and convince Watford's large Muslim community to vote Lib Dem.

But Mr Kennedy's first stop, at Central Mosque in Cambridge Road, for a televised press conference ran into trouble. A disgruntled Muslim questioned his stance in the so-called "war on terrorism", calling it an attack on Islam.