BARONESS Thatcher was so impressed with a porcelain figure of herself that she decided to visit the business that made it.

Bronte Porcelain played host to the former Prime Minister on Tuesday, when she dropped in to meet the staff who created her likeness.

She toured the Hanley Road business with her personal assistant Cynthia Crawford, meeting all 14 members of staff and seeing a tiny replica of herself being painted.

Managing director Bob Price said: "She was just so warm. It was like having a member of the family here."

An amusing moment came when sculptor Graeme Gordon was showing Lady Thatcher the original wax sculpture used in the model making process.

The sculpture had suffered some damage to the reverse side and Lady Thatcher asked if he could turn it over.

Mr Gordon said: "Well I could, but the lady's not for turning," adapting one of Lady Thatcher's most famous retorts.

"She really laughed," said Mr Price.

Goviers of Sidmouth commissioned the limited edition figure, which depicts Lady Thatcher in her prime, delivering a speech with an aide memoir in her hand.

Lady Thatcher saw the figurine before her visit and wrote to thank Bronte.

"It's both charming and perfect and I shall be very proud if people remember me in that way," she said. "I am most grateful to all of your team and admire their skill."

Lady Thatcher personally signed all the certificates that go with the figurines and, on Tuesday, was presented with edition number 1 by Goviers' managing director Alan Morgenroth.

The other 99 figurines have already been reserved or purchased by Goviers' customers.

At the end of her two-hour visit, Lady Thatcher and her assistant were given bouquets made by Hunts the Florist of Malvern.