LABOUR and Conservative rolled out the biggest guns in their General Election armoury in their individual battles to capture the Bury North seat.

Tory leader William Hague breezed into the town on Friday (May 25) and was highly optimistic his party would regain the seat.

His visit came 24 hours after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott steered his "Prescott Express" battle bus into the town.

Both spoke in favour of their respective Bury North constituency General Election candidates, Labour's David Chaytor and Conservative John Walsh.

Mr Hague was given a rowdy but good-humoured reception when he arrived in Bury on Friday afternoon.

More than 100 people, many displaying Tory banners, lined The Rock to welcome the party leader who stepped off one of three Conservative "battle buses" and into the throng. Amid a mixed reception from the crowd, Mr Hague endorsed the credentials of the Bury North Tory candidate John Walsh.

The leader said: "He is easily the best candidate of all in this constituency. And I can tell you John will become the successful Bury North candidate."

Mr Hague then launched a bitter attack on Labour and denounced the party's stance on crime, accused them of introducing stealth taxes and of favouring the euro over the pound.

"Today, Mr Blair has admitted that he wants to ditch the pound and join the euro," he said. "Keeping the pound is a big issue in this election."

Asked by the Bury Times if the Conservatives would win Bury North, the Tory leader declared confidently: "Yes, we'll take Bury. That's because we have such a great candidate in John Walsh."

Labour party supporters mixed with Conservative activists and attempted to shout down Mr Hague in what was a boisterous but good-natured protest.

After spending ten minutes in the town, the Tory leader boarded his battle bus with the cry of "Let's get John elected" before speeding on to his next election engagement.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott left his "two jags" at home to arrive in Bury on Thursday afternoon (May 24).

The controversial figure alighted from his coach to visit party members working hard at Labour's campaign headquarters in Market Street before taking on a group of Tory supporters in an exchange of words.

Mr Prescott, flanked by security, found himself being harangued by waiting Tory supporters including 70-year-old Flo Leeming from Bury.

Mr Prescott challenged the opposition supporters to come forward and take part in a public debate. Bury businessman Jim Taylor refused, shouting: "I wouldn't go near you, I might get thumped."

But firm Tory supporter Mrs Leeming, who lives in Market Street, was quite happy to argue with Mr Prescott about Labour policies.

Speaking later, she told the Bury Times: "He is a pleasant man, but he didn't win me over!"

Jumping on a bench in Kay Gardens, Mr Prescott launched a scathing attacking on the Tory Party.

He told the 30 or so Labour supporters: "The promises we have made, we have delivered.

"Mrs Thatcher's legacy was unemployment, waiting lists and people being kicked out of their houses."

After 20 minutes of rallying the Labour supporters, Mr Prescott made his way to Bury Interchange before getting back on his bus.