How club mascot may make a monkey out of the bookies

Legend has it among the people of Hartlepool that their forefathers hanged a monkey in the marketplace after a constable and the mayor mistook him for a French spy during the Napoleonic wars.

Two hundred years later, the townsfolk are considering voting in a seven-foot monkey known as H'Angus at the mayoral elections tonight.

Stuart Drummond, a 28-year-old call centre worker who has served as Hartlepool FC's mascot for two years, romped through the streets of the steel town in full monkey regalia yesterday to canvass further support for his cause – not that he needs it.

Standing against candidates from the three political parties (one of whom is also the council leader) and a businessman, his popularity among the electorate of 68,000 could leave his rivals trailing at the polls.

Labour's vote is reportedly "melting away", leaving H'Angus vying for the mayoralty with the Liberal Democrat candidate, Arthur Preece.

Worried bookmakers have suspended all bets on the contest, fearing they could lose £10,000. The monkey was originally 100-1, but his odds shortened rapidly last week.

The surreal contest is being run alongside another high-profile campaign, waged by the former detective Ray Mallon, also known as "Robocop", in the neighbouring council of Middlesbrough.

While out canvassing, Mr Drummond – wearing a rosette saying "Vote Stuart Drummond, the sensible choice" – was occasionally accostedby a football fan wanting to discuss Hartlepool's crucial penalty miss in Tuesday night's game.

Mr Drummond's idea of standing for mayor began as a protest vote, akin to the campaigns of the Monster Raving Loony Party, but evolved into a serious political campaign for the disaffected youth of the town, which has unemployment of 7 per cent.

"At first I thought it would just be a bit of fun and get some publicity for the football club, but what began to strike me is the apathy here," Mr Drummond said. "I just want people to get out and vote – I know what this town can be like ... I have never been political, but I think something needs to be done for the young, who have to hang around street corners."

As part of his manifesto, Mr Drummond – who concedes that it is a sad state of affairs that so many seem to be backing a man in fancy dress for political office – is seeking to provide more sports and youth facilities as well as give every school pupil under 11 a banana at mid-morning break.

"The banana idea started off as a joke but, in seriousness, we had milk taken away from us as children and I want to replace that with a nutritious banana," he said.

Janette Fendy, 71, a retired factory worker, said her 51-year-old daughter and her two 18-year-old granddaughters would all back the monkey.

"When he takes the monkey head off he seems to be saying things a lot of young people will connect with," she said."Many are just sick of the councillors and they don't seem to be doing much for the town, so maybe he is what we all need."

Peter Kloed, 57, a fireman, said he would "certainly be voting for the monkey".

"All this support for him goes to show that the British public are fed up with party politics, which is the same reason for what happened in France with Le Pen," he said. "It's a kick in the pants for the politicians who promise to deliver and then don't."