Battle heats up after leader debate.

(From Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

Byline: WILLIAM GREEN

THE election battle on Tyneside today hotted up after the party leaders failed to land any knockout blows during last night's television debate.

Instant polls following the Sky News debate in Bristol suggested David Cameron and Nick Clegg were virtually neck-and-neck as viewers' choice for victor, while Gordon Brown's performance was much-improved. After accusations they gave Mr Clegg too easy a ride in last week's debate and gave him an unprecedented poll boost, the Labour and Tory leaders attacked Mr Clegg on Trident nuclear weapons and immigration.

But he fought back, accusing the "two old parties" of letting Britain down on the Iraq War.

Today Mr Clegg was …