BOLTON election candidates are relying on a new weapon to stamp out apathy at the ballot box -- the post box.

Dwindling turnouts, as low as 62.5 per cent in Bolton South-east for the 1997 poll, have become a mounting source of concern for politicans.

But while everything from Internet voting to setting up polling stations in supermarkets have been suggested as a possible method of reaching reluctant electors, it is the humble mail on which candidates are pinning their hopes.

For the first time this year, anyone who wants a postal vote can have one without having to show there is a special reason why they would be unable to attend a polling station.

And, in a real rarity for the election campaign, the benefit of postal voting is one issue which candidates from across the political spectrum can agree on.

Bolton West constituency enjoyed the highest turnout in the last election, a relatively encouraging 77.4 per cent.

If that level of interest can be improved upon, candidates say postal voting is to be applauded.

Labour candidate Ruth Kelly said: "I think it's a really significant development. The Government is trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone who wants to vote to do so.

"We recognise that lots of people have difficult family commitments and hours of work which make it difficult to vote. Anything which helps them can only be healthy for democracy."

James Stevens, Conservative candidate for Bolton West, and Liberal Democrat candidate Barbara Ronson were unavailable for comment.

Postal voting was successfully piloted in three Bolton wards during last year's council elections.

Forms were sent to 29,000 voters in Bromley Cross, Farnworth and Smithills - wards which traditionally had high, low and medium turnouts respectively.

In each case voting numbers rose dramatically - with the proportion of Farnworth electors having their say almost doubling from 15.1 per cent to 29.1 per cent while the other two wards enjoyed turnouts over 45 per cent.

By contrast the highest turnout among those voting at the ballot box was 29 per cent in Astley Bridge.

Anyone wishing to request a postal vote should contact the electoral registration section at Bolton Council. Forms will not be sent out until the May 22 deadline for candidate nominations closes. Officers report there has already been a "steady flow" of applications.