DAVID Cameron ditched his Bermuda shorts, and put on a more familiar black suit and white shirt as he paid a visit to a farm in North Cornwall yesterday.

The Conservative leader broke off from his holiday at Harlyn Bay to visit Padstow Farm Shop.

He was welcomed by farmer Charlie Watson-Smyth who showed him around the store, which sells produce from the farm and other local goods.

Mr Cameron was also joined by North Cornwall Conservative parliamentary candidate Sian Flynn.

After having a good look, he then took a return tour – this time armed with a basket, which he filled to the brim with locally produced food and drink including fish, meat, bread and beer.

As he left the store he was presented with a bottle of sparkling wine.

He was shown a field of Italian durum wheat which is being grown on the farm so the store can produce pasta – believed to be a first for the country.

Speaking to the West Briton, Mr Cameron said the shop was a good example of how rural businesses are diversifying.

“I am a great believer in giving farmers the opportunity to expand and create business opportunities. I support all kinds of farmers' markets and farm shops, as I think it is a great way for farmers to get their produce out direct to customers and it is great for consumers as they can get high quality fresh food which is at a good price and which helps local producers.

“We need to give rural communities more opportunity and incentives to take on these ideas and projects though.

“At present we have a government which is out of touch with rural issues and under a Conservative government that would change. We have rural communities under a multiple attack, what with the post office closures – 49 in total in Cornwall – rural surgeries losing their dispensary services and the cutback of maternity services.

“The Government isn't listening to rural communities and is not helping them. I want to change that.”

Asked about his holiday, Mr Cameron said he was having a great time in the county despite the changing weather. He had enjoyed playing buckets and spades with his children.

When asked why he had decided to carry out official engagements on holiday, he said he had promised Sian Flynn he would visit her area while on his break.

Mrs Flynn said: “I am pleased David has come, taken time to visit a rural business and listen to concerns and issues facing rural communities.”

● In last week's story about Mr Cameron's holiday home, we mistakenly featured a picture of Sian Flynn, the prospective Conservative candidate for North Cornwall. We apologise for our error.