Gordon Brown insisted Labour can hang on to its Kent seats as he toured key marginals in the Medway Towns on the first official day of the four-week election campaign.

During the final leg of a day-long tour that ended with a meeting with community representatives in Rainham, Gillingham, he dismissed the idea that his presence so early on the campaign trail meant the party was worried about losing Kent's seven Labour-held seats.

He said that he was determined to fight for every vote.

"I said we would fight for every vote, and we are fighting for every vote.

"I believe we are on the road to recovery. Kent is on the road to economic recovery and we must not put that at risk.

"We are the best party for the future and this election is about who is better for the future.

"We have got great candidates and are taking the country through a global financial recession and are making sure that people have secure jobs for the future," he said.

He was "never complacent" about the need to do more and rejected suggestions that after 13 years, voters were ready for change.

Mr Brown travelled to Kent on the High Speed One train and began his whistle-stop tour with a visit to Morrisons supermarket in Strood and the Aylesford Newsprint, near Aylesford, Maidstone.

At Morrisons shopper Emily Murrells, 18, said: "I thought it was brilliant he came he just seemed like a warm genuine guy."

Karen Record, 41, said: "Fantastic that he's coming down to meet ordinary people. I thought it made him seem very real.

"I spoke to him and he said thanks very much for coming down and I wished him luck for the election."

Mr Brown rounded off the visit with a 45-minute private meeting with community representatives at the home of life-long Labour supporter Harry Keane and wife Mary.

Before departing back to London, Mr Brown and wife Sarah briefly chatted with residents who had gathered in the street.

The presence of the Prime Minister in Kent is expected to be followed by a succession of visits by other big-hitters from the main parties in the coming weeks.