A Sutton resident challenged Theresa May over schools funding during the Prime Minster's surprise visit.

Mahendra Mehta told Mrs May that his teacher daughter has had to use her own money to buy things for school.

The Prime Minister responded by claiming the government is boosting schools funding.

Mr Mehta, a 68-year-old semi-retired accountant, told her: "The thing is she finds the funding is the problem – I mean, she spends her own money to buy things."

Mrs May responded: “We are putting some extra funding into our schools and trying also to ensure that it’s a fairer distribution in schools.”

Mr Mehta, who said he voted for the Conservatives in the general election, said he believed Mrs May is “trying as best as she can” in “a difficult position”.

He also said he wished his daughter, who teaches at Westbourne Primary School, had not been there to raise the issue herself.

Mrs May was out with Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Scully for a walkabout ahead of the local elections in May.

A dressed-down Prime Minister, sporting leopard print trainers, heard from a retired GP who told her he was a Liberal Democrat voter.

Chris Raulrajah, 73, said after the visit: “I said I worked in the NHS for 40 years so I am quite passionate about it. Both of them agreed, she nodded.”

Retired carer Margaret Wright, 68, said she was taken by surprise as she saw Mrs May approach while she cleaned her car.

“It was quite a surprise,” she said. “It is actually nice to see people face-to-face.”

She joked that Mrs May had been lucky her son was not around for the visit.

“He is so not a Conservative,” she laughed.