AFTER this morning's announcement, we've dipped into our archives and found these pictures of when our new Prime Minister visited the area in 2014. 

And whether you love him or hate him, he drew quite a crowd. 

Fresh from appearing on ‘Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’, Boris Johnson headed to John and Denise’s Blackburn Road Wednesday afternoon clean-up in April 2014.

During the whistle-stop tour to bang the drum for the Tories, we reported Mr Johnson had denied any ambitions to take over from David Cameron as party leader.

The then London Mayor also promised a Conservative government would spread the ‘London effect’ of prosperity north if the party won the 2015 General Election.

Lancashire Telegraph:

He headed to DHJ Weisters tie factory in Moss Fold Road, Darwen and then joined Fernhurst councillors Denise Gee and John Slater to get his hands dirty on a community clean-up.

Speaking at the time, neighbours told us: "I’ll be telling my pals about seeing him."

While another added: “Boris is the only politician I would stop to have a look at.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Boris joins in the clean-up in Cravens Brow

His tour also included stops at Euxton to visit to Shackerley (Holdings) Group which makes ceramic granite cladding for Tube stations and the Lancashire Telegraph offices.

READ > It's official - Boris Johnson is our new Prime Minister

At the time, he denied any leadership ambitions saying: “I expect David Cameron will win the next election and be Prime Minister for a long time."

And on being the most popular Tory politician at the time, he said: “There isn’t much competition.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

He added: “I shall wear my splendid tie featuring flying turtles from Weisters on my Mayoral duties.

“If I can possibly make it, I will come back to Blackburn, Darwen and East Lancashire before the next election.

“I’ve had a great time.”