LIBERAL Democrat leader Charles Kennedy made a whistle-stop visit to Herefordshire to give support to his party's candidates in the 2003 Herefordshire Council elections.

Having made the short journey from Presteigne on April 14, Mr Kennedy first apologised for his brief visit before telling party members that the signs were encouraging for the forthcoming May 1 postal vote.

Responding to questions on the party's anti-war stance, Mr Kennedy said that he did not think that it would adversely affect his party's candidates chances in the forthcoming local elections.

"We did not say what we said about the war to win votes and I think people will respect us for that and taking the stance we did," he said.

"Although we do not necessarily agree with armed conflict, we have always supported our troops and no-one has spoken out more in defence of our troops than Hereford's MP Paul Keetch," he added.