Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe was back in her old stomping ground at the weekend - this time campaigning for Reform UK.

Ms Widdecombe was the MP for Maidstone and The Weald, and before it, MP for the former Maidstone constituency, from 1987 to 2010.

She served as Minister of State for Prisons and for Employment in John Mayor’s government.

But the 78-year-old veteran MP is perhaps better known to younger voters as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and for appearances on Have I Got News for You, and Celebrity Fit Cub.

She was in Maidstone on Saturday to support Reform UK’s candidate for Maidstone and Malling, Paul Thomas.

The two travelled on the party’s red double-decker campaign bus to West Malling High Street, before visiting Liberty Square in Kings Hill and the Leybourne Chase Sports Pavilion to meet voters, before travelling back via Maidstone Hospital and Hermitage Park, visiting Mid Kent Shopping Centre, and Fremlin Walk in Maidstone.

Along the way, Ms Widdecombe took a break from campaigning to call in on Mr Thomas’s mother, Maureen Thomas, who was celebrating her 90th birthday at St Paul’s Church that day.

Mr Thomas said: “My mum didn’t expect to see me that day as it was the last weekend of campaigning, so she was doubly surprised and delighted when both Ann and I popped in. She has always been a huge fan of Ann’s.”

In the evening, Ms Widdecombe attended a dinner and gave a speech to 80 supporters at the Grange Moor Hotel in Maidstone.

Ms Widdcombe said: “It was great to be back in Maidstone again and even better to find so many people supporting Paul Thomas and Reform UK.

“It was a delight to call in on his mother’s 90th birthday in the hall of a church where I have fond memories of animal services.”

Candidates standing in the Maidstone and Malling constituency are: Gary Butler, British Democrats; Maureen Cleator, Labour; Helen Grant, Conservative; Stuart Jeffery, Green; Yolande Kenward, Independent; David Naghi, Lib Dem, and Paul Thomas, Reform UK

Voting in the general election is tomorrow Thursday, July 4.