Pressure is mounting on the Liberal Democrats to make a decision as to who they will make a deal with to form the next government, following the resignation of Gordon Brown.

As talks go into their fifth day, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said talks with the Conservatives had been going well, and the ball was now in the Lib Dem's court.

"It is clearly in the country's interest and the public's interest to have a strong and stable government," he said.

"There is only really one option, and that is a Conservative, Liberal Democrat grouping."

But former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown disagreed with the analysis, arguing that a Lib Dem - Labour coalition would represent 51% of the electorate.

"I call that legitimacy," he said.

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