AS the Conservative leadership battle comes to a head, the political big guns have been rolling into Preston to address local party members.

Former chancellor Ken Clarke stopped off at the Preston Guild Hall last Thursday (August 30), and Iain Duncan Smith visited Lostock Hall Conservative Club, Brownedge Road, on Tuesday, September 4.

Conservative members across Britain must decide in a secret ballot who they would like to run their party, and the votes are to be counted next Wednesday (September 12).

Mr Clarke said there were a lot of marginal seats in this area but believed his style of politics would appeal to people. "I've always enjoyed campaigning here and I'm enjoying it this time," he added, identifying the economy, health service and defence as areas of concern.

He said: "There are a lot of members up here and I think the Lancashire vote is important. I am not a Northerner but I don't want the party to become a South of England party."

During his speech to delegates in Lostock Hall, Mr Duncan Smith pointed to the NHS, the single currency and the Government's treatment of the foot and mouth crisis as his key areas for concern.

Addressing the issue of the single currency he said: "If you want to keep your currency you are called an extremist, so 89 per cent of the population must be extremists. My beliefs are not extreme. Some 80 per of Conservatives want to keep the pound. Surely scrapping our currency is extreme." But Mr Smith said Lancashire was a far cry from the hectic world of Westminster here.

He said: "I've had a great welcome. I think the Government should send everyone up here and let them meet the people. Westminster is a media circus, fixated on issues that aren't important. Here we get to know local issues that people care about."