Brief encounter for party leaders

David Cameron was already on the train as Gordon Brown arrived. Enlarge Image

David Cameron had a brief encounter with Prime Minister Gordon Brown as both men boarded the same train.

The Tory leader was posing for photographs while waiting for his train to leave London's Paddington station.

As he did so, Mr Brown and his staff walked past the window, unaware of what was going on inside.

The two men were travelling in adjacent carriages on Friday, as they embarked on the local elections campaign trail to South Wales.

Mr Brown was heading for Swansea while Mr Cameron was going to Barry.

When Mr Cameron saw the seats reserved for the prime minister, he said: "It would be fun to have a chat."

They would certainly have had plenty to talk about, with a YouGov poll in the Daily Telegraph giving the Conservatives on a 21-year-record lead of 18 points over Labour.