After weeks of pressure and calls for him to quit, Boris Johnson headed to the county today – but wasn't available for interview.

The under-fire PM had a kickabout at Chatham Town FC on a visit to the club as he looked to move on from the Downing Street parties controversy.

No local media were informed of the visit or given opportunity to put any questions to him or take photos.

The top Tory was there to meet youngsters who are part of the club's scholarship and apprenticeships schemes.

Dressed in a suit, he also took to the pitch to take a shot from the penalty spot – official photographs are likely to be released later.

Lifelong Chats' fan, Medway Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple, was not impressed with the visit.

Referring to the town's motto, he tweeted: "Boris Johnson was welcomed to Chatham Town FC which is ironic as he is neither Loyal or True."

However, not everyone agrees with the councillor.

Chatham MP Tracey Crouch responded: "It's a shame you've tweeted this because the management, sponsors, academy boys and apprentices did an amazing job showcasing their incredible educational and community work to the PM.

"It was a brilliant visit and am enormously proud of them all. Not everything need be political."

Before the club, Mr Johnson visited the Kent Oncology Centre in Maidstone with Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The away day is being interpreted as a bid to show unity after suggestions the Treasury had refused to sign off on the government's plans to tackle the NHS backlog caused by Covid.

Mr Johnson spoke to staff and praised the unit for "working really fast throughout the pandemic".

He then travelled to the football ground in Bournville Avenue, Chatham.

Club chairman Kevin Hake said: "It was fantastic for the Prime Minister to stop by at the club and take time to speak to the scholars and apprentices today.

"The Chatham Town Scholarship programme in conjunction with VLUK provides an exit route for school leavers to play football and study full time.

"Currently we have 24 students studying BTEC Level 3 in Sport and eight apprentices football coaches. We plan to increase to over 90 scholars next year who will be studying and playing at the stadium.

"As a programme we are dedicated to ensuring the young people who join us are given every opportunity to succeed on the pitch and in the classroom, which we believe makes them well-rounded individuals who are prepared to the next step in further education or working lives.

"Our next trial at the Bauvill Stadium is on February 16, if anyone would like to register their interest then please email Timmoffatt@chathamtownfc.com."