EDUCATION Secretary Ruth Kelly has spoken for the first time of the moment she was attacked with eggs by a protester.

The Bolton West MP laughed off the incident, saying she had been the butt of many egg jokes from her Westminster colleagues.

But police were taking no chances of a repeat attack when she visited St Joseph's High School in Horwich.

Several officers arrived in three police cars and flanked Ms Kelly during her visit.

On Monday, she was struck with an egg by a man who claimed to be from Real Fathers 4 Justice.

She was hit as she left Salford Magistrates Court were she had been due to give evidence against Simon Wilmot-Coverdale.

He admitted attacking her as she took part in an election meeting at St John's Methodist Church in Horwich last May to highlight the Fathers 4 Justice cause and was given a suspended prison sentence.

She told the Bolton Evening News on Friday: "I'm fine now. The attack was just one of those things that come with being a fairly high-profile politician.

"I don't think that type of action serves their cause, though. I suppose they have attacked me twice because I am responsible for various issues affecting children.

"I have had a lot of egg jokes since then, but I can't share them with you!"

She said she had not been tempted to retaliate.

Ms Kelly was joined by International Development Minister Hilary Benn to find out about St Joseph's exchange programme with African schools.

They were entertained by with a musical performance by a drumming duo from Ghana called Global music.

Ms Kelly said: "We have some brilliant schools who take their responsibilities to schools in developing countries very seriously.

"By forging links abroad, young people in Bolton are improving themselves as well as developing an understanding of how the world can be made fairer."

l Mark Downes, aged 43, of Foxfield Road, Wythenshawe, has pleaded not guilty to Monday's attack. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Trafford Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with common assault.