BRITAIN'S future in Europe was the main talking point when Tory leader William Hague made a visit to Southampton yesterday.

He said the June 10 European elections would provide people with the opportunity to show where they stood on Europe and on keeping the pound. Mr Hague said: "I want to see Britain in Europe but not governed by it.

"People I've spoken to around the country want to stay out of the euro. They've seen that it's not a stable currency, unlike the pound."

The party leader answered various questions from a group gathered at Brian and Eleanor Physick's home in Liverpool Street, off The Avenue.

Later he met more people during a walk-about at Ocean Village and, accompanied by wife Ffion, relaxed with a drink beside the marina.

Conservative candidates line up for the election - inside the Echo on Wednesday.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.