FORMER Conservative leader William Hague visited Tadcaster to throw his weight behind the local Tory challenger.

The one-time party leader made the 50-mile journey from his Richmond constituency to meet election hopeful Mark Menzies.

Mr Hague said Mr Menzies was running an excellent campaign, and had every chance of success in the Selby constituency.

Mr Hague said: "It is a great pleasure to be here to support Mark, because this is one of the constituencies that can change the election, change the government and put Tony Blair right out of 10 Downing Street.

"We really have a chance in this election. Four years ago, we really didn't, and nothing we could have said would have made any difference. But this one is different."

Selby's Labour candidate John Grogan won a majority of 2,138 in the 2001 election. Nationwide, the Tories suffered a landslide defeat under Mr Hague's leadership.

Mr Menzies said: "It is always a pleasure to invite people to support our campaign here, and it's even more of a pleasure to invite William, who will, hopefully, be a fellow North Yorkshire MP with me."

The two met local business owners and residents, and stopped for a cup of tea at Tykes Tearoom in High Street.

Mr Hague said: "I hope my next cup of tea with Mark will be in the members' tearoom in the Houses of Commons in three weeks' time."

Tearoom owner Hugh Bowman said: "I was impressed with the way the two men put themselves across. It's important that people should take the time to sit down and talk about the serious issues we have in this town."

Updated: 11:23 Wednesday, April 20, 2005