A HIGH-RANKING Tory was the "jewel in the crown" at a dinner to launch the party's campaign in Redvales ward.

Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve was one of the guests, along with the Consul General of Pakistan, Salauddin Choudhry. Also attending the dinner, held at the Jewel in the Crown restaurant in Bury, was European election candidate David Newns and prospective Parliamentary candidate David Nuttall.

Mr Grieve spoke about rising crime levels, an issue of importance to local Tories who, two years ago, travelled to London to petition the home secretary about their concerns.

Mr Grieve was a barrister before being elected MP for Beaconsfield in 1997. He was appointed a frontbench spokesman for home affairs in 2001 before taking up his current post last year.

Mr Grieve also took the opportunity to visit Bury Victim Support Centre in St Mary's Place, Bury.