CONDOLEEZZA Rice swept into East Lancashire today and revealed she had no problem with the protests planned against her visit.

Dr Rice arrived at British Aerospace's Samlesbury plant at around 9.30am, where she was met by local dignitaries.

She was then given a guided tour of the Joint Strike Fighter Project an aerospace collaboration between the British and American governments.

Speaking after meeting workers at the plant, Dr Rice said she was not surprised her visit had triggered protests.

She said: "Protests have taken place in every American city I have visited. I expect it and have no problem with it. It is important that I encounter opposing views. I would not be doing my job if I did not do this.

"I would like to mention the delightful welcome I have received from people since I arrived.

"I always say foreign secretaries should get out of cities like Washington when they come to America, and I am delighted to be exploring the North West of England.

"But I stress I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights to voice an opinion."

Dr Rice, in the area at the invitation of Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, was asked if she felt her visit had prompted divisions within the community.

Mr Straw said in Dr Rice's defence: "The divisions over the war in Iraq have existed for a long time. In the run-up to the general election, that division was in every street in Blackburn and it was one of the big issues on which I fought the election.

"I am delighted to welcome Secretary Rice to Blackburn and East Lancashire, because I must mention that Samlesbury is actually within the Ribble Valley."

Dr Rice made the first reference to Blackburn's Industrial Revolution links to her home state of Alabama while praising the joint work on the Fighter Project.

Mr Straw and Dr Rice said it was an excellent example of countries working together, despite the dispute over America refusing to hand over detailed information to help the UK team. The JFS programme is the world's largest military aircraft project which will involve building more than 2,500 aircraft. Major components including the fuselage are being built at Samlesbury.

Both politicians, in keeping with their global roles, spoke about the overnight tragedies in Bahrain, where at least 57 people died when a pleasure boat capsized, and in Iran, where earthquakes killed more than 50 and injured 800.

Nigel Whitehead, Air Systems group managing director, said: "The fact that Mr Straw felt that BAE Systems and in particular Samlesbury is an excellent example of a highly-skilled technologically advanced industry is something we are very proud of.

"Ten thousand people work directly for BAE Systems in the North West with a further 38,000 involved in BAE contracts.

"I think it was right that Ms Rice could see not only that the UK is governing and inspiring technology but we are doing it here in the North of England."