ROYLE Family star Ricky Tomlinson has thrown himself into Blackburn's general election campaign -- to repay a 30-year-old favour.

The larger-than-life former docker who plays Jim Royle in BBC 1 comedy The Royle Family put a new angle on the election by going into character to describe this year's canvassing: "Load of humbug. Election? My a***!"

Ricky appeared in King William Street to lend his support to Lancashire Socialist Alliance candidate Jim Nichol's campaign.

For Ricky, the visit to Blackburn was the chance to repay the support Mr Nichol showed him back in 1973.

Mr Nichol, a civil rights lawyer who helped free Great Harwood man Peter Fell earlier this year after he had spent 17 years in jail for a double murder he did not commit, campaigned to free Ricky after he was to jailed for what the courts described as a 'conspiratorial' role in the 1973 North Wales builders' strikes.

Mr Nichol also raised money for Ricky's wife and children to get by during the prison term -- and it is a favour Ricky has never forgotten.

The star, who also appeared in the BBC1 series Clocking Off, said: "Jim did me so many favours back then. His campaigning led to a change in the law so people could not be sent to jail for arranging strikes.

"I have never been able to pay him back properly but when I heard he was standing in Blackburn I immediately promised to come up and visit.

Ricky appeared as Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw canvassed votes just yards further down the street.

Mr Straw said: "Oh, was he here? I didn't notice, I was too busy talking to people about the issues which matter to them. I honestly didn't see him. People were asking me questions and I was trying to help them.

Conservative John Cotton also put in a brief appearance on the busy street.

Ricky added: "I haven't been impressed by the campaigns by the main parties. It is spin. Election? Load of humbug. Election my a*** is probably how Jim Royle would describe it, and he is right."