Disgraced MP John Stonehouse who faked his own death spent his final years in Totton

THE town of Totton played a final part in the life of disgraced MP John Stonehouse, whose story has been told in a new television series.

The three-part series on ITV, titled Stonehouse, is based on the life of the former Labour politician who faked his own death amid financial and political troubles.

Mr Stonehouse spent his final years living in Dales Way in the town before dying aged 62 after suffering a heart attack.

Totton town, district and county councillor David Harrison said the series was "of extra special interest" due to Mr Stonehouse having lived locally.

He added: "I thought the the acting and way the story was told was excellent."

Mr Stonehouse was born in Southampton and grew up with ambitions of becoming a future prime minister.

He became a MP in 1957 and later took on roles including minister of state for aviation and postmaster general.

But he was dogged by allegations that he was a spy for Czechoslovakia.

When Prime Minister Harold Wilson lost the 1970 general election, Mr Stonehouse found there was no place for him in the shadow cabinet and is believed to have hatched a plan to start a new life abroad.

In November 1974 he left his clothes on a Miami beach, giving the impression he had drowned.

He was later arrested in Australia where he had fled on a false passport, after police mistook him for missing aristocrat Lord Lucan.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

On his release he lived in Totton after marrying his mistress, Sheila Buckley. He died in 1988.