Milk, two sugars and a Prime Minister!

A surprise visitor dropped in for a cup of tea at a Mid Devon farm shop and café.

Café guests, who were enjoying a mid morning cuppa, were surprised to see Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stop by for a drink.

He was in the area with East Devon MP Simon Jupp and called in at Fordmore Farm Shop and Café, Newlands Park, Honiton Road, Cullompton on his way to a farming round table discussion in Sidbury.

The Prime Minister heard all about the business's ethos to supply meat from its own herds of cattle and sheep, all farmed locally and organically, as well as some of the issues facing rural communities.

He also stopped to chat to staff who gave him a gift of some Fordmore jams and chutney, which he promised to enjoy with cheese later on that day.

Fordmore Farm Shop is owned by Tom Harradine and James Persey. Tom said: “Although we knew a senior minister would be visiting, we didn’t know who it would be until 20 minutes before he arrived. It’s not every day you have a Prime Minister dropping by!

“He was interested in how we had developed the business, particularly surviving the pandemic and we were pleased to show off some local produce – even the tea was from Exmoor.”