THE PRIME Minister made a surprise visit to Crewe to encourage voters to stick by Edward Timpson and avoid putting the north west’s economic progress at risk.

In a speech at a train factory in Crewe, David Cameron warned Labour would bring the economy to ‘a grinding halt’ if Ed Miliband did a deal with the SNP.

Speaking after the speech, Mr Cameron said voters have a ‘straight choice’ to make in Crewe and Nantwich, a marginal seat held by Mr Timpson.

Mr Cameron said: “It’s been a difficult five years, we’ve had to make a lot of difficult decisions but now you can see the results.

“You can see the results in the fact there are over 160,000 more people in work than they were when I became Prime Minister, so I think there’s a real choice there.

“Do we carry on with Edward Timpson, who’s a real hardworking, effective Member of Parliament or do we put all that at risk with Labour?”

Mr Cameron’s visit is a clear indication of how crucial the town is, along with many other seats in Cheshire, to the outcome of the General Election on May 7.

The latest poll from Lord Ashcroft of Conservative-held marginals has shown the Tories trailing or tied with Labour in five of the 10 seats surveyed.

It also puts Labour three points ahead in Crewe and Nantwich, which the Conservatives took from Labour in a by-election in 2008.

Mr Cameron added: “It’s corny to say it but it’s true, the only poll that matters is the poll on polling day and lots of people have time to make up their mind.

“And people who perhaps thought about voting UKIP, thought about voting Lib Dems, they can see there’s a very straight choice across the country, just as there’s a straight choice here in the north west.

“Do we stick with hard working members of parliament like Edward Timpson, do we stick with a plan that’s working or do we put it at risk with Labour?”