Election fever has hit a Shipley supermarket with the launch of its range of ''partly political'' garden gnomes.

Asda is selling plastic figures depicting leaders Tony Blair, William Hague and Charles Kennedy in party colours of red, blue and yellow respectively. The gnomes are on offer at stores in 10 marginal constituencies.

Staff at the Manor Lane store will be keeping close tabs on the sale of each gnome so they can produce their very own up-to-the-minute election polls.

The £2.96 gnomes are traditional designs, complete with white beards and pointed caps, but each has a-tag bearing a part leader's name.

The "Tony Blair" gnome is holding an axe, which according to Asda, is "ready to fell the other parties standing in the way of a second term". The "William Hague" model is carrying a lantern "in the hope of guiding the Tories out of the darkness and into office".

The "Charles Kennedy" figure holds a spade ''poised to bury the opposition''.

Deputy store manager Andy Fryer said: "It's a bit of tongue in cheek fun which will bring humour to the otherwise fairly uneventful campaigning. People can buy their favourite and put it up in their window or in their garden to show who they are supporting.''

Asda's home and leisure director Rob Swyer said: "Buyers in our gardening department, now named the Gnome Office, will be compiling regular sales bulletins to track candidates' progress.''

Customer Andy Davies, of Baildon, said: "I don't think I'll be getting one myself but it's a nice idea and a bit of a laugh which brings a bit of light-heartedness to the campaign.''

Asda already has as range of election curries on sale, including Blair's Bhuna, Hague's Hot One and Kennedy's Korma