WORLD boxing champion Joe Calzaghe has leapt to the defence of John Prescott after he punched a protester who threw an egg at him.

The Newbridge fighter, the WBO super-middleweight champion, was impressed by the deputy prime minister's skills and said he reacted the way anyone would in the circumstances.

Mr Calzaghe told the Argus: "I don't really rate his punch but I think he did the right thing. It doesn"t matter what your position is, if someone whacks you one, you're bound to react by wanting to hit them back.

"He suprised me with his punch, but I'm afraid he's a little bit flabby and old to think about a boxing career.

"But he would be welcome to come to my gym and have a few rounds with me and I could talk through how to improve his punch."

Other figures from the boxing world like Harry Carpenter and Frank Mahoney were also analysing his style yesterday.

Prestatyn-born Mr Prescott, who has described the incident as "regrettable", learned to box when serving as a ship's steward. His skills once won him a cup, which he presented to his old school.

Mr Prescott was followed by a larger than normal media entourage yesterday as his battle bus travelled to Scotland.

North Wales Police released 29-year-old Craig Evans on bail yesterday in connection with the incident, saying they would speak to all those involved, including Mr Prescott, as part of "routine investigations".

Political response to the incident has divided along predictable party lines. While his Labour colleagues, from the prime minister down, have defended his actions, political opponents have been quick to condemn.

"There is a long and honourable tradition of throwing eggs at politicians," said former Tory cabinet minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

"If egg throwing resulted in violence every time it happened that would be something which was totally new to British politics and hugely unfortunate," he said.

Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones said: "A politician of the status of the deputy prime minister should be better able to control his temper. He was surrounded by minders trained to deal with these stuations.Yielding to a fit of temper was not justified."

But the public has been more understanding. Indeed, in the eyes of many ordinary people Mr Prescott did something admirable in standing up for himself.

North Wales Police yesterday defended their security arrangements during Mr Prescott's visit to Rhyl.

Superintendent Phil Thom-son described policing of the event as "appropriate to the level and type of meeting being held".

He said that a thorough investigation would take place and insisted that the force would not be "coerced or badgered" into making a rush decision as to what should happen. Craig Evans is to answer police bail in mid June.