Labour's chairman drenched

Labour's newly-appointed chairman Ian McCartney got the cold water treatment while out campaigning for the local elections.

As he toured Bolton town centre, Greater Manchester, a protester tipped a bucket of water over him, claiming he should "wash the blood off his hands".

The Scot was not hurt in the drenching which took place just before he was due to give an interview to a local television programme.

Instead the 51-year-old MP for Makerfield, near Wigan, shrugged the incident off.

He told BBC North West political editor Jim Hancock: "I'm afraid perhaps it's part of the job occasionally. I've had worse - I've had a bouncer attack me and break my nose, break my jaw."

The protester was spotted during a photoshoot by Labour MP Brian Iddon.

Fast getaway
He called out: "Oh somebody's just thrown water over Ian."

A man, believed to be the assailant, then ran off covering his face but left the bucket.

The protester ran off after soaking Mr McCartney
Mr McCartney, who was left with water dripping off his suit, told Mr Hancock: "He just ran up behind me and threw a bucket of water over me.

"He said he would wash the blood over my hands. He ran off. I don't know who he was.

"I've got a wet suit. What's that compared to the men and women in the Gulf who have put their lives on the line to give Iraqis a better life?"

Mr Hancock said the Labour Party would not be pursuing the incident with the police.

The offending bucket is left behind
He believes the water came from the town fountain.

The incident was reminiscent of the drenching Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott received five years ago at the Brit Awards.

Leeds-based Chumbawamba guitarist Danbert Nobacon soaked Mr Prescott as he watched the ceremony with his wife Pauline.