David Cameron's wife gave a revealing insight into their home life as she prepares to take a leading role in the election campaign.

In her first public interview, Samantha Cameron praises the Tory leader's strength, reliability and kindness.

But she also warns that he is "definitely not perfect" and has "lots of very irritating habits" such as being messy around the house.

The comments emerged after Mr Cameron disclosed that his wife was being deployed as a "secret weapon" to ensure he reaches Downing Street.

Speaking at the couple's London home for the ITV1 programme Trevor McDonald Meets David Cameron, Mrs Cameron described how they first met on a family holiday 18 years ago.

She was a 21-year-old art student and a close friend of his sister Clare, while he was 25 and a special adviser to Norman Lamont at the Treasury.

"I was very young when we got engaged - I was only 23," she said. "But I think I felt fairly confident that you know Dave was the one for me for lots of reasons. He's a very strong kind of reliable person."