IT'S not only Tony Blair's support within the Labour party that is thinning these days, even his receding hairline is drawing unwanted attention.

The Prime Minister had to stop his famous grin from turning to a grimace yesterday when plucky 84-year-old Ron Henderson suggested he was looking a bit thin on top.

The retired miner, who wore a trilby to conceal his own locks, told Mr Blair: "You don't have as much hair as the last time I met you."

The 53-year-old Premier was momentarily taken aback by the wisecrack during a visit to his Sedgefield constituency, in County Durham.

But he showed there were no hard feelings by promising to recognise the Labour stalwart's lifelong support of the party by making him an honorary member.

After their brief reunion, at the opening of a new play area and sports pitch in Trimdon Colliery, Mr Henderson said: "I knew him before he was Prime Minister and have got photographs of him in the house.

"He had a good head of hair then, but I told him he has lost most of it now.

"But he still said he was pleased to see me and that he would make me an honorary member of the Labour Party."

The pair first met two decades ago when Mr Blair was a promising young MP with a fresh face and full head of hair.

Mr Henderson, who worked at Blackhall Colliery, in County Durham, backed the 1997 General Election campaign in which Mr Blair became the youngest British leader of the 20th Century.

The Hendersons and Blairs are friends and Mr Henderson's great niece, Kristen Lewis, had a part-time job babysitting for three of the PM's children -Euan, Nicholas and Kathryn.

Mrs Lewis, 32, said: "When Tony first came to Trimdon, they used to speak a lot. He was always pretty open.

"The whole family are friendly with the Blairs.

"What happened at the play area is typical of Uncle Ron.

"Everyone in the village knows he is a real character. He talks to everyone the same way."