WINNING the Mid Dorset seat from the Liberal Democrats is vital to the Conservatives' hopes of winning the election on May 7, the Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted.

"It's absolutely vital," he told the Daily Echo. "It's a big fight here."

"We are 23 seats short of a majority and this is one of the 23 we need if we are to avoid the disaster of a Labour government propped up by the Scottish National Party which will bring more taxes, more spending and more debt."

Mr Cameron was speaking on a flying visit to the constituency which the Liberal Democrats held at the last election with a majority of just 269 - making it one of the battleground seats in the election.

Bournemouth Echo:

Former MP Annette Brooke has stepped down and the contest in Mid Dorset and North Poole looks like a straight fight between her successor as candidate, Vikki Slade and the Conservatives' Michael Tomlinson.

Other candidates are Patrick Canavan (Labour), Mark Chivers (Green) and Richard Turner (UKIP).

Mr Cameron had a BBQ lunch at the home of Calum and Lilli Docherty in Lytchett Matravers.

He said: "We want to avoid the calamity of an alliance between a Labour party that wants to bankrupt the country and a Scottish National Party that wants to break up the country."

Mr Cameron refused to be drawn on the controversial Navitus Bay windfarm project.

Bournemouth Echo:

"This matter is before the Planning Inspectorate so I have to be careful what I say but I know all the local MPs and councils have made their feelings known about it.

"I understand why they feel so strongly. This is a particularly beautiful part of the country. It's special and it's part of our heritage."

On mental health Mr Cameron accepted that successive governments had "shortchanged" children and young people.

He said the government had pledged more money to mental health for services such as cognitive therapies, had introduced waiting time targets and was committed to parity of esteem with physical health.

"All this will help," he said.

"I have a very good friend who is a mental health consultant in Poole and who keeps me up to date with issues here."

Mrs Docherty, who has a daughter, Dakota, aged 14 months, and is expecting her second child, said: "It was pretty incredible having the PM to lunch. I don't suppose that will happen again."

Her parents Jane and Leonard were also at the event, along with friends and neighbours who were astonished when Mr Cameron turned up for the hour-long visit.

She added: "My dad is cashing in a pension under new rules coming into force today and he is investing it in my mum's care business.

"He was interested to talk to the Prime Minister about the new legislation and what it has meant for him."