Election fever, it is fair to say, is not gripping the good folk of Norwich � or at least not in the political sense. Swine flu decided yesterday to pay a visit to the Norwich North by-election and struck down one Chris Ostrowski, who just happens to be Labour�s candidate.

Election fever, it is fair to say, is not gripping the good folk of Norwich - or at least not in the political sense.

Swine flu decided yesterday to pay a visit to the Norwich North by-election and struck down one Chris Ostrowski, who just happens to be Labour's candidate. Or rather, it was suspected he had the bug.

The poor politician collapsed at home and was rushed to the local emergency ward, where he was checked out. Labour sources confirmed that the 28-year-old was now quarantined at home and would miss the final 48 hours of the campaign.

He had been scheduled to visit the North City Children's Centre to talk about the UK Government's Sure Start programme alongside Lord Mandelson, the First Secretary of State, but 20 minutes before the royal entourage was due to turn up, a Labour apparatchik telephoned ahead to cancel the show.

The mums playing with their toddlers on the centre's floor were disappointed but understood that Mr O had wanted to be ultra-cautious, particularly where children were concerned. However, Ann Burton, a local mum cuddling her toddler, noted: "I don't see why Lord Mandelson couldn't have come. It would have been nice to see someone." Really?

Cheryl Burge, the centre's co-ordinator, insisted it was better to be safe than sorry but echoed the point about the Business Secretary not turning up. "We pulled out all the stops to see him," she pointed out.

It was clear from talking to the young mothers that there was really only one person most Norwich voters want to see as their MP and that was Scot Ian Gibson, who fell foul of the expenses scandal. "He should have stood as an independent," insisted another mum, Justine Duggan.

Indeed, there were suggestions that Labour Party workers were so incensed at the party chiefs allowing Mr G to be dropped that they had downed tools in protest and had stopped campaigning. The talk on the electoral grapevine was that the Labour campaign has been pretty low key. Only two big beasts have decided to show up - Chancellor Alistair Darling and Lord Mandelson compared to a raft of top Tories; David Cameron has been here five times.

It transpired that after the Ostrowski incident, the Supreme Leader was kept well away from any local party worker for fear that the dreaded bug might infect the Prince of Darkness. Surely he's immune?

After a rush, your correspondent finally caught up with the premier peer, lounging on a BBC sofa waiting to be whisked back to civilisation. Norwich, he declared, was a "Labour city" and that the party's candidate was by far the best even if he now, sadly, had to be confined at home. He was in playful mode and started using a microphone to interview a BBC reporter.

After firing off a string of well-prepared electoral lines, he insisted: "I like by-elections", said his farewells and shuffled off to his waiting limousine.

Meantime, over at LibDem HQ hundreds of copies of the party's newspaper had arrived with the hopeful headline: "It's so close." April Pond, the party's slightly older candidate who runs her own jewellery business, insisted it was now a two-horse race between the Tories and the Libs. St Vince, patron saint of the recession, was there as the latest big beast to pay a visitation but who did not seem quite convinced by April's optimism.

Strangely, LibDem HQ was tucked away in a corner of an industrial estate, seemingly miles from the punters but handily next door to the Hot Tub Store.

In another faceless unit on another faceless industrial estate elsewhere in Norwich, Ken Clarke, in his canvassing uniform of grey suit and brown suede shoes, was being talked through some deep sea exploration machinery. "It looks like a big screw," note the wise one. Nothing gets past the ex-chancellor.

Tory candidate Chloe Smith, the fresh-faced management consultant, who, if she wins will be the youngest MP at the scary age of 27, was hanging on the Tory grandee's every word.

She came across as unbelievably polished she also ticked the box on Cameron compassion, insisting she would send her Labour rival a get well card. Overturning a 5459 majority? It's in the bag for Chloe.