Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made an unannounced visit to Swindon after apologising for leaving a service marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day early.

The Conservative Party leader received heavy criticism for prioritising an ITV News interview over attending the end of a momentous ceremony in Normandy on Thursday and has since described the decision to leave as a "mistake".

Mr Sunak's first stop on the campaign trail around the south west on Friday was at Imagination Childcare in Swindon, where he greeted Swindon North Conservative candidate Justin Tomlinson and met staff and youngsters at the nursery.

The Swindon Advertiser was not made aware of the visit or invited, though national outlets such as Sky News and the Press Association were.

It came as a Normandy veteran accused Rishi Mr Sunak of letting the country down.

The Prime Minister admitted in an interview by Sky News at the Swindon facility that “on reflection” he should have stayed for the event where world leaders including US President Joe Biden marked the sacrifice made by troops landing on the Normandy beaches in 1944.

But Ken Hay, 98, who was captured as a prisoner of war just weeks after D-Day said: “I don’t have a great regard for politicians.”

He told Sky News: “He lets the country down.

“It’s not the representation of how we’re trying to weld things together to keep the peace.”

The veteran suggested Mr Sunak had decided to “bail out, let them get on with it because ‘I want to stand in the election, I want my seat back'”.

Mr Sunak issued an apology over social media and repeated it in an awkward exchange with broadcasters in Swindon.

He suggested it had always been his intention to leave before the international ceremony on Omaha Beach, even before he called the General Election.

“I’m someone who will always admit when I’ve made a mistake,” he said.

“I stuck to the itinerary that had been set for me as Prime Minister weeks ago, before the election,” he told broadcasters.

Mr Sunak said that having participated in “all the British events with British veterans I returned home before the international leaders’ event later in the day”.

He said: “On reflection, that was a mistake. And I apologise. I think it’s important though, given the enormity of the sacrifice made, the focus should rightly be on the veterans who gave so much.”

But the Prime Minister added: “People can judge me by my actions when it comes to supporting the armed forces.”

He highlighted the Tory commitment to spend 2.5 per cent on defence by 2030 and his support for veterans.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron represented the UK Government at the international event, while Mr Sunak’s rival for the keys to No 10, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, was also there rubbing shoulders with world leaders.

Mr Sunak was challenged on what it said about him that his election rival stayed in France while he did not.

“On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay longer and I apologise for that,” he repeated.

“But I also don’t think it’s right to be political in the midst of D-Day commemorations. The focus should rightly be on the veterans and their service and sacrifice for our country.”

In Swindon, Mr Sunak sought to promote the Tory election offer aimed at helping higher earners keep more of their child benefit.

He joined the children and Mr Tomlinson digging in a sandbox, potting flowers, and playing with water and seashells.

“This is great,” the Prime Minister said as he poured dyed-blue water out of a shell.

Candidates hoping to be the MP for North Swindon after the polls close on July 4 also include Labour representative Will Stone, Green Party candidate Andrew Bentley, and Reform UK's Yvette Maxwell-Darkes.