A TORY hopeful has backed Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to postpone this year's General Election.

James Stevens, prospective parliamentary candidate for Bolton West, said the announcement was "the right decision".

And referring to the foot and mouth crisis, he said: "It would have been totally wrong for politicians to have been involved in an election campaign when half the country was in quarantine."

The foot and mouth crisis, which has affected much of rural Britain, prompted Mr Blair's U-turn.

Some quarters had feared postponing the election would send a message across the world that Britain is a country in trouble.

But Mr Stevens said: "I hope that the date for these re-arranged elections will now remain fluid as we cannot have an election until the foot and mouth situation dramatically improves."

The Prime Minister has delayed the local and general elections from May 3 to June 7 following appeals from farmers and bishops.