FORMER Prime Minister Sir John Major has made a visit to Worcester - and fired an ominous warning about the UK Independence Party.

The retired ex-premier made a long-awaited trip to the city to host a Q&A session with Tory party members and invited guests from the business world in a bash at Sixways on Friday night.

Worcester MP Robin Walker had been trying to get Mr Major to talk to local party bigwigs for over a year, which he finally took up in front of around 300 invitees.

During his visit he complimented the city's New Road cricket ground, describing it as "beautiful", and also took time to talk with Cynthia Crawford, the late Margaret Thatcher's former personal assistant, long-serving helper and best friend who lives in Battenhall.

Mr Major also warned about the rise of UKIP, saying the city's Tories needed to make sure they follow a different path to get the backing of voters.

UKIP finished second in eight of the 11 Worcester city council seats it contested back in May and is putting forward candidates everywhere next year, including a battle with Mr Walker for the parliamentary seat.

Mr Walker said: "It was by far the biggest and best speaker-style event I've ever put on in Worcester - John Major is actually much more charismatic than his reputation suggests from the old Spitting Image caricature.

"The audience very clearly echoed what he said, he told them 'you mustn't follow UKIP down blind alleys'.

"His basic message there was that he thinks UKIP are very good at presenting problems, but not solutions - and that's what we've got to focus on.

"He also made a huge fuss over 'Crawfie', (Cynthia Crawford) which was very nice to see.

"It was a really lovely event and it was fantastic to have him in Worcester."

During his talk Mr Major said Lord Peter Walker, Mr Walker's late father, was the toughest man he had dealt with in politics, citing negotiations over Government spending with him harder than trying to win over the Russians and Japanese in world affairs.

Lord Walker's roles in Government included Secretary of State for Wales when Mr Major was Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

The former PM also praised Worcester, saying his love of cricket meant the city was a happy place to be.

After seven years as Prime Minister Mr Major was defeated by Tony Blair in 1997 and duly stepped down as party leader.

He remains to date the last Conservative Leader to win an outright majority at a General Election after gaining over 14 million votes in 1992.

The 71-year-old left the Commons in 2001 and has kept a low profile since as the oldest living former Prime Minister.