TONY BLAIR has thanked the Daedalus Action Group for handing in the 32,000-signature petition to Downing Street last week.

He has also thanked campaigners for a copy of their letter, newsletter and complementary yellow baseball cap, like the ones worn by up to 200 protesters who travelled to the capital.

The letter from the government's communication unit on behalf of the Prime Minister says that Mr Blair could not reply personally because of the thousands of letters he gets every week.

Now a copy of the campaigners' letter has been forwarded to the Home Office so officials there can reply on the Prime Minister's behalf.

Chairman of the action group John Beavis said: "This is what we expected.

"At least it's an acknowledgement from Number Ten."