LIBERAL Democrats said New Forest East was their top target in Hampshire as party leader Charles Kennedy visited Dibden Purlieu on his first constituency engagement since the birth of his son.

The Lib Dems are determined to win the seat from the Tories, who have held the constituency since it was created in 1997.

One of Mr Kennedy's aides said: "New Forest East is our number one target in Hampshire. We are putting a lot of resources into winning the seat. It's vastly different from anything we have ever done in the area before."

Mr Kennedy said: "The south is going to be the key battleground, particularly between us and the Tories. It's all about who is the real alternative to Tony Blair - and we have led the charge against the government.

"The Tories have either gone along with them or flip-flopped."

Asked about his party's prospects of winning New Forest East, Mr Kennedy said: "We have every capacity to win the seat, which is why I'm here today."

Mr Kennedy was visiting the Waterside Centre, an adult education unit run by Totton College. Waiting Lib Dems welcomed the party leader as he arrived just hours after launching the party's manifesto in London.

The first person to greet him was the candidate Brian Dash, who lost out to Tory Julian Lewis by just 3,829 votes at the last general election in 2001.

The two men are going head to head again.

After touring the centre, Mr Kennedy took part in a question and answer session.

Asked why young people had little interest in politics, the Lib Dem leader said the voting age should be reduced from 18 to 16.

He added: "If people are old enough to get married and have children - as I have just done - it seems to me that they are old enough to vote."

Lib Dems presented Mr Kennedy with gifts for his baby son.

However, Mr Kennedy was heckled by a lone protester from Fathers4Justice. Mike Cox, of Hythe said: "Courts are intrinsically biased against fathers. The new Lib Dem manifesto makes the right noises, but offers no real solutions."

FOR MORE NEWS ON THE 2005 GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN SEE PAGES 8 & 9 OF TODAY'S DAILY ECHO.