FORMER Conservative leader William Hague visited Worcester yesterday to promote his book, William Pitt the Younger, a biography of Britain's youngest Prime Minister.

Mr Hague, who led the Tories from 1997 to 2001, went on a tour of the city with Worcester parliamentary candidate Margaret Harper, before giving a talk at The King's School about his book on William Pitt.

"I'm pleased by the reaction we received in the city," he said. "It's good to be here to speak to people and to talk about my new book."

The Tory MP for Richmond, in Yorkshire, has spent the past three years writing the biography on Pitt.

"I used to compare myself to him a lot. He was a young prodigy upstart and I could identify with that. I think it's amazing that he got to Prime Minister at the age of 24.

"But there are two major things that separate me from him. First, I got married. And, second, my party left Government and those things make me less obsessed about politics than he was. That makes me feel very different from him now."

Mr Hague said he was now considering writing a second biography, although he had not decided his subject matter.

"I really enjoyed writing this book. I still enjoy being an MP, although I don't want to be at the forefront of politics again. I wouldn't stand for leadership again."

Margaret Harper will be challenging Worcester MP Mike Foster at the next General Election and Mr Hague thinks that she will give the Labour man a run for his money.

"There's a good chance of the Conservatives taking Worcester. I think we can bring the people on side and win them over."