CHERIE Blair praised Worcester nurses' hard work tackling the spread of potentially deadly infections like MRSA.

Her comments came during an election campaign visit to the city's Worcestershire Royal Hospital yesterday.

Mrs Blair arrived in the city after joining her Prime Minister husband Tony at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

A dozen pro-hunting and Conservative protesters forced Mrs Blair to cancel a planned trip to the Royal's crche.

The protesters said about 50 people from around Worcestershire had been waiting for Mrs Blair but the numbers dwindled when she was delayed.

"We are incensed with the demise of British countryside and farming has gone down the pan," said Trea Newell, from Norton, near Worcester.

The joint master of the Worcestershire Hunt, David Palmer, of Rushwick, said: "We have been treated as cheap political pawns and we are determined to make them pay for it." Despite the disrupted schedule, Mrs Blair appeared happy chatting to matrons at the hospital for about 25 minutes.

"It is the staff that make the hospital and the fact they work together makes it a success as a hospital," Mrs Blair, a top barrister, said afterwards. "We were talking about infection control and how well it is working. From what I hear there isn't really a problem (with MRSA).

"Every hospital has to make sure it is clean and continues providing the best service to the public. It's about keeping staff and getting a proper work-life balance with different ways of working and different shifts.

"A little bit of imagination goes a long way."

Sharon Smith, a matron in the medical assessment unit, said she enjoyed speaking to Mrs Blair.

"It was great to meet her to share ideas and let her know what we are doing. She seemed genuinely interested," she said.

Mrs Blair's visit follows a similar call to the city by Sandra Howard, wife of Tory leader Michael, last week.