ANTI-WAR candidate Reg Keys packed up his North-East campaign office yesterday and declared he did not regret a thing.

He said that he had given his campaign as an independent candidate against Tony Blair 101 per cent and felt that his Red Cap son Tom Keys, who was killed in Iraq, would be proud.

He said: "People have come from all over the country and have slept on floors in people's houses. It has been heartwarming to see. One man in his 80s even gave up his house for the campaign.

"I have given 101 per cent and four-and-a-half thousand people have shown their true colours by coming out to vote. Many of them were former Labour voters.''

Mr Keys said he has been overwhelmed by the amount of support that he has been shown and told how the people of Sedgefield had welcomed him and treated him kindly.

He said: "When I turned up for the count, it was like attending a film premier. I did not realise that it was going to be such an event. People were waiting outside and cheering. I just went into automatic pilot and got on with it.''

He also spoke of his son Tom and the rest of the 88 soldiers who have died in Iraq and has written a small verse about the election experience.

He said: "At times during the campaign, I have felt that there have been an army of 88 soldiers walking the streets with us."

Mr Keys said he will rest for a few weeks before taking on another big battle and that is for justice for his son.

He said: "My next job is to get the inquest of the six RMPs up and running and I will fight for justice for my son and the rest of the 88 with as much vigour as I have done this election.''