THE sister-in-law of former prime minister Tony Blair told a conference in Colchester that more Muslims in Britain would be "good for the country".

Journalist Lauren Booth - sister of Mr Blair's wife Cherie - converted to Islam last year.

She told a conference at Essex University's Colchester campus that since becoming a Muslim she was a "better worker" and a "better mother" to her two daughters.

In a lecture called My Journey to Islam, she told the annual Islamic Conference that Britons were "seeking not to be afraid" of Muslims and wanted Muslims "to be happy".

She said: "If the number of British Muslims increases you should know it will be only good for the country.

"I am a better community person, I am a better worker, I am a better mother."

She claimed "one-sided news" meant she had been "scared" of Arabs and "probably" of Muslims.