Blunkett 'fighting fit' after accidents

Dvaid Blunkett declared himself "fighting fit" yesterday after a weekend in which he received a black eye and was involved in a car crash.

The Home Secretary was given 10 stitches to a gash on his face after walking into a metal loft ladder that had been left down inadvertently at his home in Sheffield on Friday. He was treated for his injuries at Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, but was not kept in overnight.

Misfortune struck again yesterday when he was on his way to the latest session in the Government's public consultation exercise, the "big conversation". His chauffeur-driven car was involved in an accident between Sheffield and Leeds. No one was injured, but the Home Secretary was forced to change cars to reach Fairfield Community Centre in Bramley, Leeds.

He said that his treatment had reassured him "just how wonderful" the NHS was.