Ms Wood said: "I think they are struggling. They haven't got that many foot soldiers and in the last five to 10 years, the Labour party organisation on the ground has crumbled.

"Now she is using her Parliamentary email address to rally her troops and she is so disorganised she has sent it to me twice.

She sounded upbeat about winning the seat, which would require a swing of around 1.5%.

Ms Woods added she was receiving "tremendous" support from residents and her party nationally as a target seat.

The email from Dr Blackman-Woods said she was "absolutely desperate" for leaflet deliverers.

"We're really up against it with the Lib Dems in Durham at the moment.

"They have plenty of money to put out their glossy magazines and we need to hit back.
"We may not have the money but we certainly have the spirit and now is the time to start fighting back."

It added: "It is only a few weeks to the General Election and the Labour Party needs all of its members out in their constituencies fighting hard if we are to achieve a historic 4th term."

The Labour MP said the email should have been sent to supporters but was accidently distributed more widely by a student working at her office.

She added the email referred to getting a Parliamentary report out before the election.

"All it says is that we are desperate for help over the next couple of weeks because we have got to get that report out before the election is called and then it is just asking for people to help.

"If that is all the Lib Dems have to go with, I haven't got much to worry about," said Dr Blackman-Woods.

She also dismissed a potential Lib Dem complaint the email was sent via her Parliamentary address - saying she paid for the service.