TORY leader Michael Howard ended an exhausting day with a rally in his Folkestone and Hythe constituency on Tuesday and declared: "It is great to be home."

Mr Howard, accompanied by his wife, Sandra, was welcomed with tumultuous cheers and waves at Hythe Town Hall.

Despite his relentless schedule, he was re-energised by the overwhelming support in the room and in loud voice with fists striking the table, he urged the party faithful to spend the final hours of the campaign encouraging the people of Shepway to vote Conservative.

He poked fun at the visit to Hythe of Charles Kennedy earlier in the day, stating it must have been a dilemma for the leader as to which Liberal Democrat group he was supposed to be meeting, a reference to the split that occurred last year.

Jibes came from the floor about him being caught short and not being able to find a public toilet.

Mr Howard went on to speak, as he had done at venues across the country all day, of his party’s promises.

Scrapping unnecessary police paperwork, putting matron in charge in hospitals, ensuring 24 hour surveillance at ports and providing a band of border police, giving head teachers the right to exclude disruptive pupils, making a council tax discount for the elderly, abandoning stamp duty for houses worth less than £250,000.

“We can turn a new page on Thursday, open a new chapter of hope, action and achievement,” he roared.

A shout rang out just as he was leaving the stand. His beloved Liverpool were 1-0 up against Chelsea. “This is going to be a good week,” he concluded.

* THE world’s press descended on Folkestone on Saturday afternoon when Mr Howard took a trip through the precinct.

Camera crews, photographers and reporters moved with the Leader of the Opposition as he made his way up Sandgate Road, zig-zagging between the shops to greet shoppers.

He was halted briefly outside Shoe Zone by Lord Toby Jug, the Monster Raving Loony Party candidate, who was rallying support with the help of a megaphone. Their exchange was a friendly one.