THE front-runner to become the country's next Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, stopped-off for a Cornish pasty in Bicester on Saturday while on his way to the first round of hustings in Birmingham.

The former foreign secretary visited one of the oldest businesses in Bicester, Nash’s Bakery, on Bassett Avenue, and served customers freshly baked treats.

MP Victoria Prentis, along with business owner Graham Nash, welcomed the PM contender to the bakery.

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Mr Nash, who was born and raised in Bicester, said he did not know Mr Johnson would be visiting until the day before.

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He said: “We received an email asking us if we would like him to come and we said by all means yes."

The 76-year-old runs six of the family-run bakeries in Oxfordshire, three of which are in Bicester.

He said his business however is struggling as a result of the uncertainty of Brexit.

The baker said:“We’re working hard to achieve a bright future but Brexit has been disastrous for us. It has been our toughest time because people don’t know what’s going to happen. We want it solved so that we know what the situation in.”

The Cherwell District voted to leave in the 2016 referendum and Mr Johnson said he wants to honour that decision.

The politician said: “I’m here to look at this fantastic local business and to talk to people about what they want our country to do.

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"They’re very proud of the UK, they believe in the UK, but they want us to get on and get out of the EU as we promised, and then deliver a fantastic new progressive agenda.”

Mr Johnson said the three issues at the top of his agenda are education, infrastructure and crime.

The 55-year-old said: “We’ve got to improve our education funding, we’ve got to do more for infrastructure in our country so people have the roads and connections that they need and fantastic rail links, and we need to do something about broadband. It’s pathetic the way we’re so far behind on full fibre broadband.

“I want to see crime cut down too. When I was mayor of London we cut the murder rate down by 50 per cent and you need to have people feeling secure in their streets.”

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But when asked about what he will do for North Oxfordshire, he only talked about how 'extraordinary' Bicester Village is.

He said: “This is an example of the incredible potential of new ideas and new industries. When I was educated in this part of the world I had no idea that Bicester village attracts thousands and thousands of people literally from across the world.

"I have relatives in India who come to this thing so its extraordinary and shows the power of innovation.”

Mayor of Bicester, Jason Slaymaker, also attended the low-key visit, where Mr Johnson joked with people in the crowded shop.

Mr Johnson had been in the news that morning after his neighbour called police and recorded a loud row at his home which he shares with his partner Carrie Symonds in London.