THE leader of the Opposition made a flying visit to the Ribble Valley yesterday to boost the Conservatives' local election campaign.

William Hague visited Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, before meeting local Conservative activists at the Conservative Club in the town's High Street.

He was accompanied on the trip by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans and adviser Sebastian Coe.

Mr Hague was taken on a tour of the school by head teacher Glynne Ward and visited several parts of the school, including a music studio, art room and a classroom with an interactive whiteboard - the latest alternative to the old-fashioned blackboard.

Mr Hague chatted with pupils about their school work and wished them good luck in their exams.

And when shown a soundproofed music room, where Ms Ward said pupils could make as much noise as they liked, he quipped: "That's what we should have in the House of Commons!"

In the school's technology suite, where pupils were logged on to the internet, Mr Evans called up his own website for them to look at.

Mr Hague, who last visited the Ribble Valley to support Mr Evans' election campaign, praised the school, saying: "It seems to have a great atmosphere."

And he said there were great similarities between the Ribble Valley and his own constituency.

He told staff the Conservatives' education policy would be about setting teachers free to teach and said he believed in having a successful state education system.

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