SAMANTHA Cameron took time out of her busy election campaign to learn about a groundbreaking mentoring scheme in Bolton.

Looking radiant in a pink top and short navy blue trousers — a more casual approach than Sarah Brown who yesterday morning opted for a more formal, but no less glamorous, blue jacket and skirt on a visit to a children’s centre in Atherton — the pregnant wife of Conservative leader David Cameron visited the Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

While there, she was given a tour of the club by chief executive Karen Edwards and met the Tories’ Bolton North East candidate, Deborah Dunleavy, and mentoring champion Helen Newlove, widow of Garry Newlove, who was beaten to death outside his home in Warrington in August, 2007.

After taking tea with Ms Dunleavy, Ms Edwards and Mrs Newlove, Mrs Cameron looked relaxed as she made table decorations with youngsters involved in the Group Mentoring Programme, which works with children aged eight to 12.

Mrs Newlove has been campaigning for a centre such as the Lads and Girls Club to be open in her hometown.

She said: “I think the mentoring which goes on here should happen in every town in the country and should be Government funded. Parents need to know that there children are safe to go out on their own.

“The work they do here is fantastic.”

After leaving Bolton, Mrs Cameron was expected to join her husband in Manchester last night for the historic live party leaders TV debate.