DAVID CAMERON accidentally left his eight-year-old daughter behind in a pub after going out for Sunday lunch, it has emerged.

The Sun reports today that Cameron and his family were eating at the Plough Inn in Cadsden, Buckinghamshire – around 15 minutes’ drive from the prime minister’s country residence at Chequers – when the logistical mix-up occurred.

Nancy, 8, had gone to the toilet while transport back to Chequers was being arranged – and when both parents left, in separate cars, each assumed Nancy was travelling with the other.

It was only when they had arrived back home that they realised their daughter was not among the travelling party – prompting a rush back to the pub where Nancy was found helping pub staff.

Cameron had travelled back to Chequers in a car with his bodyguards, while his wife Samantha had driven back with the couple’s other children Arthur, 6, and 22-month-old Florence.

Downing Street told PA this morning that the incident had happened “a couple of months ago”.

“The prime minister and Samantha were distraught when they realised Nancy wasn’t with them,” a spokesman said.

“Thankfully when they phoned the pub she was there safe and well. The prime minister went down straight away to get her.”

The Guardian notes that although the incident did not happen in the weekend just passed, news of the mix-up becoming public comes at a regrettable time: Cameron is due to launch a £450 million programme for troubled families later today.