Tony Blair with the photograph taken in 1983

Tony Blair was asked to sign a photo of himself on the campaign trail back in 1983 during a visit on Friday to Trimdon Labour Club.

The picture, belonging to Joan Buckley, 78, showed a fresh-faced Mr Blair presenting a long-service award to her father and former miner John Oldham.

Mr Blair said of the photograph: "It brings back happy memories."

Family heirloom

The photograph shows Mr Blair as he was campaigning to become Sedgefield's MP.

When someone commented on his 1980s hair-do, he replied: "I had more of it, that's for sure."

Mrs Buckley said: "My dad was a staunch Labour supporter. He said Mr Blair would become prime minister one of these days. He died not long after that.

"He would definitely have been proud to have his local MP as prime minister.

"It was very nice of Mr Blair to sign it for me because it is now a family heirloom."

Mr Blair also attended the launch of the Handyvan scheme in his constituency, run by Age Concern.

Organic beer

The project aims to prevent accidents in older people's homes by sending volunteers out to carry out safety checks and perform small jobs around the house.

The prime minister later unveiled a plaque at a lift manufacturer Pickerings Lifts in Stockton-on-Tees, which is celebrating 150 years of trading.

Tony Blair presents the award to John Oldham in 1983

Mr Blair said to reach the milestone was a fantastic achievement.

He said: "Manufacturing is a difficult business to be in these days because there is competition from around the world.

"We cannot compete with the low costs of other nations, but we can offer high skills and a quality product."

Mr Blair was presented with a commemorative case of four bottles of organic beer which was brewed especially to mark the 150th anniversary.