Victoria LeggettAs the north Norfolk candidates sat in Cromer's sports hall last night, they would have had plenty of time to reflect on a rather low key campaign.Victoria Leggett

As the north Norfolk candidates sat in Cromer's sports hall last night, they would have had plenty of time to reflect on a rather low key campaign.

The past few elections had been exciting nail-biters as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats battled to overtake their rival or hold on to a marginal seat through high profile campaigns and party leaders popping up all over the place.

This year, that outside support has been noticeably absent.

The Lib Dem candidate was at times pulled away from his constituency duties to help in other seats while Labour's Phil Harris, who had to travel to Great Yarmouth to meet Gordon Brown during his recent visit, admitted north Norfolk was not a prime battleground for his party.

It all added to the feeling that, with a notional majority of 8,575, a Norman Lamb victory might be inevitable.

Not that anyone would admit it.

All six candidates and their local teams continued to work flat-out right up to polling day and were confident they had done all they could.

Conservative Trevor Ivory admitted waiting for results was 'absolutely terrifying' and he would rather be at home watching it on television - but was pleased with how the campaign had gone.

Earlier Mr Lamb had a cooked breakfast at the Cockerel in North Walsham to get him started, before meeting voters a number of towns and villages.

In Cromer he was met by the sight of a giant crab casting his vote - for the benefit of an EDP photographer.

One positive development at the end of the campaign is that candidates reported a lifting of the apathy detected early on with voters belatedly recognising the importance of having their say.