County firm chosen for PM's gift

The Queen's birthday from the Cabinet came from the Potteries

A Staffordshire pottery firm was chosen to provide the Prime Minister's 80th birthday present to the Queen.

Downing Street confirmed the gift from Tony Blair and his Cabinet was a china tea set made by Spode pottery.

A spokesman for Spode said the set, from its Stafford Flowers range, would have cost about £1,000.

Mr Blair's official spokesman said on Friday that Buckingham Palace had indicated it was "something the Queen specifically would like".