TRADE and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt was invited to visit landlocked Harrogate yesterday after implying in the House of Commons that the town was a seaside resort.
Miss Hewitt caused hoots of laughter when she made the remark in the Commons on Monday. Responding to a noisy reception the Tories were giving her, she said: "It must be all that sea air at Harrogate."
She also said the Tories must have taken too much "bracing" air in Harrogate - a reference to last weekend's Conservative spring conference.
Yesterday, the North Yorkshire town's tourism manager, Mike Hine, said he would send the minister a brochure, extolling the virtues of the manicured gardens and upmarket shops.
Mr Hine urged Miss Hewitt to visit the town - 70 miles from the east and west coasts.
He said: "I thought it would be a very good idea to let her know exactly where we are located.
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