A MOTHER of six has reacted angrily to charges that hospital campaigners "hi-jacked" the Prime Minister during his visit to Bewdley to see the floods.

Rachel Muir, of Meadow Rise, Bewdley, walked several yards up Load Street side-by-side with Tony Blair spelling out her fears over the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

But Mrs Muir said: "I was just speaking to him as a mother. I am not a member of any campaign. I don't know anything about the details of hospital reorganisation.

"I just caught up with Mr Blair as he got near to the car because I felt so strongly I should seize the moment. There would never be another opportunity like this."

Mrs Muir said her action was entirely "spontaneous" and not the result of a pre-planned "hijack". She said: "I did not even know he was coming. I was in town because of the children.

"I have been so worried because of what my eldest daughter who is training to be a paramedic and is engaged to a paramedic has been telling me. I worry about my four-year-old when there is meningitis around. You need to get to hospital quickly."

She was reacting to the word Wyre Forest MP David Lock used to criticise people who upstaged flood victims during Mr Blair's flying visit on Thursday afternoon at the height of last week's flooding.

Mr Lock was visibly angry as hospital campaigners raised a banner and shouted slogans. He claimed one protester threw coins at the Prime Minister, although COI spokeswoman Annie Harris said: "It was a bit of a bear garden but there were no undue security worries that I know about."

Mrs Muir, 43, said: "As far as I was concerned I was not a hi-jacker. I spoke to him at the end of his visit when he had already seen the floods and talked to people about it.

" I just wanted him to know about the hospital. I said you have young children yourself. You must understand. I saw no point in all the heckling. What was needed was someone to take time to talk to him.

"There were people shouting abuse about the hospital and making childish gestures. I was ashamed to see it and it was this that propelled me. We had a nice conversation. There were no bad words. He was very charming - but that does not save lives."

"At one stage he turned away from me when one of his aides was saying something about his wellingtons. It sounded flippant so I said "so your wellingtons are more important than saving lives". He turned and said, "not at all, I will write to you".