FRIDAY the 13th proved lucky for South Thanet MP Stephen Ladyman -- he was promoted in the Prime Minister's government reshuffled.

Dr Ladyman, from Chilton near Pegwell, Ramsgate, has been made parliamentary undersecretary at the Department of Health.

He said: "Friday the 13th can be a good news day. I am thrilled and shocked but I am definitely up for the challenge.

"John Reid, the new secretary of state, has suggested he wants to change things around in the department but initially I will be leading on adult social services, care of the elderly and mental disability.

"These are areas of vital concern to Kent and having a big elderly population I will be able to draw on a lot of local experiences to help inform my decisions."

The MP revealed that he turned down the chance to be told of his promotion at 10 Downing Street. He said: "I was on my way to my surgery in Ramsgate and I wasn't going to let my constituents down.

"The Prime Minister understood and was kind enough to talk to me on my car phone so I did not have to be late arriving.

"I have no intention of giving any less time to my constituents. Surgeries, local campaigning and local consultation will continue to be key parts of my work."

To prove his words, Dr Ladyman's first duties after his promotion were surgeries in Ramsgate on Friday evening and Sandwich on Saturday.

But he has found a flaw in his new status already. He said: "The only problem is that two of the cases I am dealing with would normally be sorted out by writing to the minister at the Department of Health - - how do I write to myself?"