CAMPAIGNING York pensioner Joan Merryweather has taken a protest about pension levels and social service charges for the elderly to the top.

Joan, a leading member of York and District Pensioners' Association, travelled to Scarborough at the weekend in a bid to deliver a letter to the Prime Minister during his visit to the annual Local Government Conference.

She was unable to get past his entourage to win a face-to-face meeting, but still achieved some success in her mission.

"I approached one smartly- dressed man who turned out to be Mr Blair's personal bodyguard," she said afterwards.

"He promised to make sure Mr Blair would see the letter - I can't do better than that."

Another protest awaiting the Prime Minister came from a small group of students from Scarborough's sixth-form college, who kept up a chorus of calls for the reinstatement of student grants.

Tony Blair had only just returned from his meeting in Washington with President Bill Clinton.

But there was no sign of jet lag or fatigue as he strode across the platform in the packed Spa Conference Centre and began his speech to the 2,000 delegates. Peppering his strident address with jokes at his own expense, Mr Blair brought waves of applause with promises of "zero tolerance" on corrupt councils, extensive local government reform, minimum wage and social investment.

With clear references to the scandal which has rocked municipal affairs in Doncaster, he said: "The vast majority of our 20,000 councillors and two million local government employees observe the highest standards of public service.

"But we know there are a number of instances where things have been worse, where there has been poor behaviour and corruption.

"I will not accept this. Corruption in councils is not tolerable. We cannot allow the behaviour of the few to undermine the reputation of the many."

He told the conference of his international plans, preparing for the possibility of conflict in the Gulf.

"The UK like everyone else, wants a diplomatic solution to this crisis. But we have to be realistic about the nature of the man and the regime we are dealing with.

"If we don't stop Saddam Hussein now, the threat to the world and our future will be greater."

Meanwhile, shoreline protesters at Scarborough were hoping their seaside message would help turn the tide to keep the resort's waters free from fluoride.

Firefighter and former commercial artist Jeff Brook-Smith wrote a 40-metre message on Scarborough's beach to coincide the Tony Blair's visit to the town.

Mr Brook-Smith, who was helped by his 15-year-old son John and wife Christine - a director of the national Pure Water Association - have been working for five years to drive home their objection to any plans to put the chemical in Scarborough's water supply.

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