Michael Howard has been touring key constituencies urging voters to hold his party to account for its promises.

The Conservative leader visited Torquay on Tuesday morning, where he met with local voters in a walkabout that saw a large media scrum follow his movements down the high street.

Later in the afternoon he delivered a stump speech to an audience of party members and the public in Rothwell, Northants.

Howard called on the public to read the Conservative manifesto.

"I want people to read it in the newspaper. I want people to look for it on the net. I want people to put it up on the fridge door," he said.

"I want people to hold us to account for the promises we make in our manifesto.

"After all, in every other walk of life if you break your promises, if you screw up, you have to pay for it, you might lose your job.

"People tend to think that it is different for politicians. I don't think it should be different for politicians.

"So I'll tell you this. If our ministers after the election don't keep the promises that are set out in our manifesto they'll be out, they'll be out on their ear, because we have to be accountable to the British people."

The Tory chief also turned on a Labour supporter in the crowd, urging him or her to justify the government's early release scheme for offenders.

He concluded: "On May 5 vote send a message to Mr Blair: Enough is enough.

"On May 5 vote to take a stand. On May 5 vote for a party that will respond to the priorities of the people of Britain. On May 5 vote Conservative."