BARONESS Thatcher paid a holiday visit to Worcester's Elgar School of Music following a weekend jaunt to watch the cricket at New Road.

But the former Conservative Prime Minister remained tight-lipped about who she hoped would win the party's leadership contest.

Baroness Thatcher has spent this week visiting Cynthia Crawford, her personal secretary and long-time friend, who lives in the city.

As a music and Elgar fan, she yesterday dropped in to the Deansway school for a tour, to meet some of the young musicians and enjoy some fine performances.

Greeted by the school's founders, Sam Driver White and Dr Donald Hunt, she was first entertained by the school's amateur string orchestra - mostly consisting of retired people who practise together once a week.

After meeting talented youngsters, there was a visit to neighbouring Huntingdon Hall before a brief concert of Elgar's music.

"She loves Worcester," said Ms Crawford, speaking for her friend during the private visit. "She really enjoys the peace and quiet of the city and visits every 18 months or so.

"She is a member of Graeme Hick's 100 club for charity and we were at the cricket on Sunday, before going to Royal Worcester on Tuesday.

"This was another lovely place to come and see and she was particularly keen to meet the children here."

l Former Tory transport, defence and foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind was also in Worcestershire yesterday, visiting the Morgan works in Malvern with Leominster MP Bill Wiggin.