THE Prime Minister met his match yesterday when he got a grilling during a primary school question and answer session.

Pupils from Sedgefield Primary School and St William's RCVA Primary School, in Trimdon, met their local MP at Sedgefield library, in County Durham.

Mr Blair was quizzed about climate change, unemployment, the new booster seat law and his work in the constituency.

Ten-year-old Matthew Bennett, whose father, Gary, was one of 300 workers made redundant at Optilon, in Peterlee, this summer, briefly had the PM lost for words.

He asked: "When I grow up, if I want to work in a factory, how can I? They are all going abroad"

After a pause, Mr Blair said: "In this area, people used to work in the coalmines, but they closed and people found other jobs, and what happens today is that jobs are constantly changing.

"Some jobs go abroad, but some others come. That is why education matters, so you can shift to different jobs as different opportunities come up."

Had Mr Blair ever had an idea but failed to make it happen? asked eight-year-old Megan Hetherington.

"Too many," he admitted.

Mr Blair was stumped when he was quizzed by ten-year-olds Jessica Collett and Rebecca Dentith about new booster seat laws.

The law says children under 12 or under 135cm need a car seat, which they felt made no sense for short 12-year-olds.

Mr Blair said: "I know Leo, my six-year-old son, needs one, but that is a good point, I will look into it and contact you later."

Towards the end of one of Mr Blair's toughest question times, Matthew piped up again to lift the mood by asking if the Prime Minister finds time for a social life.

He said: "You have to make time for family and friends because they treat you like a person."