GEORGE BUSH told last night of how he was looking forward to visiting North-East next week - and how he was concerned that he might not be able to understand the local accent.

In a wide-ranging interview, the US President revealed that during his three-day state visit to England, he will be meeting relatives of the 54 British soldiers killed in Iraq.

He spoke of his closeness to Tony Blair, whose Sedgefield constituency in County Durham he will be visiting, and of how he understands the right of people to protest against the war in Iraq.

He said he was taking two messages to the British relatives. "One, the prayers of the American people and the prayers of the President are with them, as they suffer.

"Secondly, I will tell them that their loved ones did not die in vain. The actions we have taken will make the world more secure and the world more peaceful in the long run. What is taking place today is a noble cause."

He was effusive in his praise of Mr Blair, revealing that they talk on a weekly basis about Iraq.

Mr Bush said: "I admire him as a strong leader. He tells you what he thinks and he does what he says he's going to do. And that's about as high a compliment as I can pay a fellow leader."

He revealed how much he, and his wife, Laura, were looking forward to staying at Buckingham Palace.

"I never dreamt when I was living in Midland, Texas, that I would be staying in Buckingham Palace," he said. "Buckingham Palace has got a resonance to it here in America which is pretty grand and pretty magnificent.

"I've got my tails all set out and ready to go. Had to rent them, but - just don't tell anybody."

He confirmed, as The Northern Echo suggested more than a month ago, that he would be visiting Mr Blair's back-yard.

"I can't wait to go to his constituency," he said. "It's hard for a President to get out to the countryside. I travel in something of a bubble."

Details have yet to be announced, but it is believed he will fly into Teesside Airport on Friday morning, and sites in Darlington, Sedgefield, Trimdon, and Durham City are understood to have been screened for security.

Asked if he will be able to understand the North-East accent, the President said: "My Geordie is probably just about as bad as my English.

"And I hope they understand Texan. You know what I'm saying?"