TORY party media relations officers were accused of “heavy-handed” treatment of regional journalists yesterday after a factory visit by David Cameron in Yorkshire.

Reporters from national newspapers accompanied him on the stage-managed tour, but regional journalists from publications including the Yorkshire Post and Huddersfield Examiner were confined to a small room for an hour until the end of the visit.

Brief access to Mr Cameron was then permitted — a one minute interview.

National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “Journalists, national and local, say these stage-managed events, stuffed with party activists and supporters, are a travesty of democratic engagement.”

She accused the Tories of “bureaucratic and intrusive” demands on journalists seeking accreditation to cover events, including home address, passport and driving licence numbers and photograph.

“Election events should reflect the hurly-burly of political debate and not be reduced to patronising photo-calls,” she said.