James Clappison's victory in the Hertsmere election last week was all the more sweet considering he survived an attack from a dog on the election trail.

The Tory MP explained that he was bitten by a dog when he turned up at a house in Elstree two weeks ago to try and persuade its occupants to vote for him.

"It happened when the postal workers were on strike so perhaps the dog was looking for a target that day," he joked.

"It was a Conservative dog so I don't think it really meant any harm."