POLITICAL heavyweight Lord Neil Kinnock made a recent visit to the Forest, in support of the Labour parliamentary candidate, Steve Parry-Hearn.

Lord Kinnock addressed an audience at the Whitemead Forest Park.

Mr Parry-Hearn said: "With exactly six months to go until the General Election, when Foresters will have a timely chance to elect the Member of Parliament, a visit from political giant Lord Neil Kinnock to add fire to the political debate was hugely welcome.

"Speaking to a sell-out crowd at Whitemead, Lord Kinnock injected his trademark passion, knowledge, eloquence and wit into the highly-successful gala evening."

He added: "The support for Labour that we are now seeing grow, day by day, in the Forest is tremendous. I was deeply honoured to welcome Lord Kinnock, one of the greatest political orators of all time."

Speaking about the Clearwell-based Labour candidate, Lord Kinnock said: "Steve is totally committed to the Forest, and is a very capable man. I really do think that we have a very good chance of securing a return to Labour here."

•Mr Parry Hearn, in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau, will be holding a special advice session, concentrating on problems people may be experiencing with benefits, and particularly the 'bedroom tax', at the West Dean Centre in Bream, this Saturday (November 15) from 9.30am-12.30pm.