Blair receives late birthday greetings

Tony Blair has been meeting people in his constituency

Prime Minister Tony Blair received belated 50th birthday greetings today from residents of his Sedgefield constituency.

Mr Blair, whose birthday was on Tuesday, was making a visit to the north-east of England on Friday.

He was given a hand-made birthday card, with 50 on the front, by three-year-old Jon Radley in Trimdon village.

He told the youngster, from Trimdon Green: "There is only one thing wrong with it, it should have three on the front, not the five."

Mr Blair was visiting the village in County Durham close to his constituency home to open a new Social Services call centre.

Earlier, he visited the nearby market town of Ferryhill, where he met youngsters and played pool with some of them, at a brand new Internet e-cafe.

At the opening of the cafe, he said he hoped its new facilities would help reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

He also opened a fountain outside Ferryhill Town Council before doing a walkabout in the busy marketplace.