A NORTH Yorkshire landowner today dismissed speculation that his daughter had found romance with the Prime Minister's son, Euan Blair.

A national newspaper yesterday reported that Rosie Willoughby, of North Grimston, near Malton, had recently been seen arm-in-arm with Euan, 18.

Rosie's grandfather, Lord Middleton, is a Tory peer, a former president of the Country Landowners' Association and is chairman of the Middleton Hunt.

Euan's father, Prime Minister Tony Blair, is not known for his pro-hunting views, and a Bill to ban hunting with dogs is currently working its way through the parliamentary system. It has met stiff opposition in the House of Lords, where Lord Middleton has his seat.

Rosie's father, The Hon Michael Willoughby, said today: "She is not his (Euan's) girlfriend and that is that. She has met him three times in her life, once when they went to be interviewed at Oxford, once in a nightclub, and I can't recall the other occasion.

"The reports are inaccurate and annoying."

Asked if Rosie had seen the stories, Mr Willoughby said she had not because she was abroad.

"Though not in Sharm-el-Sheikh," he added, referring to the Blair family's recent Egyptian holiday destination.

Rosie, 18, a Durham University student, is said to have ridden with the Middleton Hunt regularly.

Frank Houghton-Brown, hunt master, said today: "If there does turn out to be any truth in this then I hope Rosie will be able to persuade Euan to join her to show him how enjoyable hunting really is."

Euan is no stranger to the headlines, having been found drunk and incapable in Leicester Square after celebrating his GCSE results in 2000.

The teenager had been abandoned by his friends and was found, semi-conscious, by a police officer, who arrested him for being drunk and disorderly.

Euan, a Bristol University student, saw his upmarket digs become the centre of a very public row recently.

His mother Cherie's purchase of two flats led to the so-called "Cheriegate" affair after it was revealed convicted conman Peter Foster had been involved with the deal.

Special Branch officers have since advised Euan not to move into the flats because of fears the publicity could have made them a terrorist target.

richard.edwards@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 12:46 Monday, December 30, 2002