CORNWALL'S SIX Westminster constituencies could be a crucial battleground for this years's general election, according to Ladbrokes.

The bookies have released odds for each of the county's seats and the betting suggests a series of desperately tight contests. The Liberal Democrats and Tories fought out a 3-3 draw in 2010 but the odds forecast a slight shift towards the Conservatives in May. It's a 2/1 shot that the Tories wipe out the Lib Dems by winning all six contests.

In St Austell & Newquay, the Tories are narrow favourites to unseat Stephen Gilbert but might also face a stiff challenge from UKIP, who are only 7/2 third favourites. The Lib Dems are just about fancied to hold on in St Ives and Cornwall North but the odds are almost too close to call.

The bookies quote just 2/1 that UKIP win one of Cornwall's seats and their best chance looks to be in Camborne & Redruth, where they are just 11/4 to defeat sitting Tory MP George Eustice.

Truro & Falmouth looks a likely Conservative hold at 1/4, but with eight candidates already intending to stand, a shock Liberal Democrat win is not out of the question. The bookies rate this seat as the fourth most likely Lib Dem gain in the whole of the UK.

Mebyon Kernow stand in all six seats again and they are quoted at Evens to achieve 5% and save their deposit in any constituency.

Matthew Shaddick of Ladbrokes said: "The Cornish seats look almost impossible to predict:The Liberal Democrats might be in big trouble nationally, but we think that a strong UKIP performance in the county might dent the Tory vote and help Nick Clegg's party hold on in at least two seats here."