NO CONTEST - that is the story of the local elections in the New Forest, as new candidates have failed to come forward and offer their time and skills to the community.

In 26 out of 37 town and parish councils in the district, election day will be a shoo-in for sitting councillors and the handful of novices who have added their names to the hat.

At Brockenhurst - which is one parish councillor short for May 1 as things stand - they put the blame for candidate apathy on the code of conduct.

The code, which came into force for parishes exactly a year ago, compelled councillors to reveal a range of previously private information, such as the value of gifts worth more than £25 and business interests.

Members also have to declare an interest in any matter under discussion which might benefit themselves, a relative or friend.

In parish councils - the grass roots of politics, where local knowledge and contacts have always aided decision-making - the code was dubbed a "snoopers' charter" and caused a rash of resignations.

Among the first in the Forest to give up his seat in protest was Brockenhurst's former chairman John Clark - a councillor for nearly 40 years. He said: "The code is just too intrusive."

Now Brockenhurst's district councillor Maureen Holding says: "The code of conduct is to blame for there not being enough councillors standing for election."

Parish clerk Mary Pattison said: "It may be that the code has put some off, but also the job has got more demanding in terms of legislation. I know the clerk's job has increased greatly over the last seven years, and the same applies to councillors."

Rosemary Rutins, New Forest elections manager, said: "We are down on last time. In 1999, out of 64 possible contests we had 27. This time we will have 21. It's not a dramatic drop.

"The trend seems to be fewer candidates coming forward in the bigger communities, rather than the small ones. It is impossible to say if the code is discouraging people from standing. They don't tell us why.

"All our parishes at least have a quorum - a minimum of three."

Brockenhurst councillors also criticised the policy of sending out dossiers of election information to all prospective councillors, even when it was known there would be no contest.

"We all get this paperwork, sent with a 57p stamp. Add it up.

"It's a waste of our council tax to send all this out when there's not going to be an election," said Cllr John Purkess.

But Mrs Rutins said it was a legal requirement for all councillors to be supplied with the correct information.