FORMER Prime Minister Theresa May has used some of her new-found leisure time to sail up the Beaulieu River visit Buckler’s Hard.

Mrs May and her husband Philip arrived in style on a Sunseeker yacht which moored at the bottom of the village's main street.

They had afternoon tea on deck before being given a guided tour of the former shipbuilding centre.

The tour was conducted by the Hon Mary Montagu-Scott, the sister of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who is director of the maritime museum at Buckler's Hard and commodore of the Beaulieu River Sailing Club.

She said: “It was a pleasure to share our passion for Buckler’s Hard and the Beaulieu River and the story of its fascinating past.

"This is a very special place and we were honoured that they chose to make a personal visit.

“Mr and Mrs May had recently been reading about the role that Buckler’s Hard played during the Second World War. They have both said they thoroughly enjoyed their time here and their visit to the museum."

During their tour the couple explored two buildings on the Buckler's Hard tourist trail - the Shipwright’s Cottage and Chapel of St Mary’s.

The couple visited Buckler's Hard over the bank holiday weekend, arriving on Saturday.

Mrs May, 62, has been MP for Maidenhead in Berkshire since 1997.

After failing to persuade Parliament to support her withdrawal agreement from the EU she resigned as Prime Minister but remains an MP.