During a visit to Newton Abbot on Wednesday Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne agreed Liberal Democrats made a positive contribution to the government.

But with tomorrow's (Thursday May 5) local elections in mind, he urged voters to give Tories control of Teignbridge Council.

Mr Osborne spent an hour at the Centrax light engineering turbine factory after asking to tour a successful Devon manufacturing business.

Centrax exports 90 per cent of its goods, employs 750 people and has a £100m turnover.

The chancellor said his visit came a day before the local elections to remind the electorate they had choices about who ran local authorities and how governments were elected.

He said the Tories, opposed to AV, would locally freeze council tax for four years and deliver more new homes.

Asked about his Lib Dem cabinet colleagues he said they made a positive contribution, but both parties maintained their independence.