DARE we say out of the frying pan and into the fire? Former estate agent Nick Crawford, who has many years experience in the commercial property market behind him, is like many another agent, getting out of the faltering business in the hope of making a new career. His new direction? Politics.

Yesterday he surprised his friends in the business by putting himself forward as an independent candidate in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, which looks like being one of the most hotly contested constituencies in the country.

He is part of a group of 19 candidates called New Vision. Southsiders can expect to see a lot of Mr Crawford, on lamp posts at least for the next while.