Fish 'n' chips for Bush

Tony Blair took George Bush to his local pub today before the President boarded a helicopter and began his journey back to the United States.

The teetotal US President spoke enthusiastically to locals at the Dun Cow Inn in the village of Trimdon in Mr Blair's constituency of Sedgefield and even posed as if serving drinks.

But while pub manager Geoff Rayner boasted about his range of real ales and whiskies, reformed alcoholic Mr Bush drank alcoholfree lager with his meal of fish and chips and mushy peas.

Inside, up to 100 of Mr Blair's constituents waited their turn to meet the two leaders, who also chatted to bar staff in the crowded lounge.

Mr and Mrs Blair, the President and First Lady all chose the same menu.

They had cream of leek and potato soup to start, followed by the fish and chips, with lemon crème br°lée for pudding.

The official motorcade left Myrobella House, Mr Blair's constituency home, just before 1pm and headed towards Sedgefield along roads which had been cordoned off by police.

Mr Bush chatted warmly to the crowd of onlookers and was asked to sign autographs.

Earlier, speakers from the antiwar movement stood in front of the Crosshill Hotel at one end of the village green to address a group of protesters.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Foot-Wood, said: "I would say this to America: you don't combat terrorism by being a terrorist."

Lindsey German, a leader of the Stop The War Coalition in London, said about Mr Bush's visit: "He has been kept under house arrest in Buckingham Palace.

"We had the streets of London

yesterday and he was forced to scuttle out of the back door because of those protesters. This state visit has been a disaster."

John Rees, from the same group, told the crowd that one third of the British soldiers who fought in Iraq were from the North-East, describing them as "economic conscripts". He added: "There could be nothing more hypocritical than the rich of one part of the world sending the poor of their part of the world to shoot at the poor of another part of the world."

But he tried to dispel any suggestion that the protesters were anti-American, saying: "We are part of a huge international movement of resistance with many, many American friends and supporters, like the Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, who led the London protest yesterday."

A spokeswoman for Durham Police said there were an estimated 500 people at today's demonstration.

Mr Bush touched down at Teesside Airport for his final UK engagement at 11.32am. With his wife Laura, he then took a short helicopter trip to the Prime Minister's constituency, 10 miles north of the airport.

An informal Tony Blair greeted the President at Trimdon with his shirt open. By the time they set off for lunch a tie was in place, matching Mr Bush's formal appearance .

The security operation covering the visit of Airforce One to Teesside was expected to cost £1 million.

As a police helicopter circled overhead, shop assistant Carole Collins, 27, said: "This has brought a lot of chaos to the area, but people will put up with it for just one day. The visit has put us on the map."