HANDS up those of you who know the name of your county councillor.

All right, me neither. But if the shrug that Lancashire County Council's new leader, Hazel Harding, says is the response people give to the body she heads is a typical reaction, I am not sure it is all down to apathy, but more to the LCC being so remote and meaningless.

This situation makes the County Council less accountable, and means that nigh-faceless politicians have virtual jobs and expenses for life.

At least, in a unitary authority like Blackburn with Darwen you could be shunted departments knowing that the one you wanted was in there somewhere, not miles away in Preston.