TONY Blair was in Darlington yesterday to open a 740,000sq ft Argos depot.

He was joined by the town's MP Alan Milburn and delegates from Darlington Borough Council for the visit to the warehouse, on the Faverdale East Business Park, which will eventually create 700 jobs.

Mr Blair met staff before unveiling a commemorative plaque.

He congratulated the construction and store workers on completing the project on time and below budget which, he quipped, was "very Argos".

"This is one of the most competitive businesses in any sector anywhere, in a world that gets more competitive all the time which, occasionally, happens in my business as well," he said.

Robin Wall, director of Argos Direct, said: "It's been a fantastic success and the 500 local people that are now already part of our team will make a significant difference in allowing us to continue to grow our business."

Councillor John Williams, leader of Darlington council said: "The fact that Darlington has attracted such a major company to base one of its warehouses here shows what a dynamic town this is."

The Prime Minister was visiting Darlington at the end of a whistle-stop tour of his Sedgefield constituency.

His first engagement was at the Wheatley Hill Family Centre, in east Durham, where children were listening to their favourite Mr Turnip tale.

Mr Blair joined them before opening the centre in the former mining community.

Later, he received a mixed reception from students at New College Durham where he opened a £36m campus.

That was followed by a visit to Framwellgate School, in Durham, to open a multi-million pound science centre.

While there he admitted science was his worst subject at school, adding: ''I just didn't understand it.''