TODAY is a sad day for Sedgefield. For ten years, the County Durham constituency - once anonymous beyond the boundaries of the North-East - has amassed the most extraordinary collection of memories.

And today marks the end of that unforgettable period in its history as Tony Blair prepares to fly north to announce his resignation as Labour leader and Prime Minister.

One day, we will pinch ourselves that the world's leading politicians came to Sedgefield.

Did George Bush really come to Trimdon Colliery, his helicopter landing on an old pit spoilheap, before going on for fish, chips and mushy peas at the Dun Cow Inn?

It really happened. French President Jacques Chirac came too, as did Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, and French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

And when the dreadful news broke of Diana's death in 1997, Mr Blair paid tribute to the People's Princess outside the 12th century church of St Mary Magdalene in Trimdon Village.

Sedgefield has shared moments of history with the world and that is not to be underestimated.

Finchley in London was Margaret Thatcher's constituency but who remembers that? People worldwide associate Sedgefield with Mr Blair because he has involved his constituency, made it a focus of his time in office, and used it as his sounding board.

Indeed, it is said that New Labour itself was forged within the proud, ex-mining community which had been ultimately failed by Old Labour.

Mr Blair has opened countless local fetes and visited scores of local schools, whose children will not forget the day the Prime Minister popped in.

There are many who will celebrate today's announcement as good news for the country; the opportunity for change.

But love him or loathe him, Tony Blair has been good for Sedgefield, just as Sedgefield has been good for him.

And it is a sad day.