PRIME Minister Theresa May unveiled the government's long-awaited draft withdrawal agreement on Wednesday, a 585-page document setting out the terms of the UK's departure from the European Union.

In the following hours, Westminster has been rocked by resignations, more resignations, decisions to stay, calls for a vote of no confidence, mounting fears of crashing out without a deal, and even talk of future civil unrest and possible food riots.

But how do the people of Bournemouth feel about this pivotal moment in history?

Starting at Wetherspoons' Moon on the Square, a pub chain owned by vocal Brexiteer Tim Martin, we gauged public opinion.

Martin Dover, aged 44, from Bournemouth, told the Echo: "I've just heard a vote of no confidence is likely facing Theresa May.

"All of these resignations, it feels like the politicians are letting us down.

"They got us into this mess by allowing a referendum on such a complex issue. It could never have been just a simple in or out...ridiculous."

Justin Corby, a HGV driver, said: "If hard Brexit means customs checks at all of the ports it will shut the country down. I'm telling you, haulage businesses in the UK will fail in massive numbers. It will cripple us and drive prices up for everyone else."

Janice Anderson, aged 32, from Poole, said: "Theresa May has to go. I feel sorry for her but she just doesn't have the backing she needs.

"I don't think this mess will be sorted out for a long time, I think we will probably still be in the EU in ten years talking about the exit strategy.

"This current deal simply will not get the backing of Parliament, everyone is saying that already."

Jo St Hellier said: "I'm worried, it seems we are in a kind of no-man's land.

"I voted remain but that isn't the point now. If the referendum said leave, then the people we have elected to represent us should make this happen.

"The option is this deal, no deal or no Brexit, but it should be just this deal or no deal. And a no-deal will be a disaster."

Stephen Trussel, a retired Bournemouth builder, said he had heard a report on TV news about possible future food shortages and rationing by supermarkets.

"They were saying it could be caused because goods will take so much longer to meet demand with all the new customs checks," he added. "It is kind of weird to hear talk like this, we are not living in the 1950s."

Meanwhile, retail worker Peter Clarke, aged 41, said: "We need to just cut ties and get out, this is what the country voted for.

"A no deal Brexit will not be the end of the world. If Theresa May is outed by her own party, God knows who could step in. It will just mean even more uncertainty, more worry for the nation.

"These politicians will not suffer, they won't be trying to feed their families from the food banks."