You might think a break in our sunny climes would help take his mind off the war with Iraq, his so-called feud with Gordon Brown and never-ending questions about his departure as British Prime Minister.

Now speculation suggests Tony Blair is considering buying himself a holiday home in Bermuda.

Mr. Blair (pictured) was spotted by a British newspaper being treated to a fishing trip by leading Bermuda-based lawyer, his family friend Justin Williams.

It prompted the Mail on Sunday to claim rumours were mounting in Bermuda that the Prime Minister and his wife are thinking about purchasing a home on the Island.

The paper reported that Mr. Blair was taken on a four-hour expedition on 30-ft motor yacht Knot Guilty, owned by Mr. Williams, whose clients include Capital G.

The paper points out Capital G is involved in mortgage lending as well as services to the international insurance industry.

Mr. Blair took the trip while his wife Cherie and their children were given a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Centre, 120 miles from the Miami home of Bee Gee singer Robin Gibb, where the Prime Minister and his family were staying.

Mr. Williams, 41, was first linked to the Prime Minister in 2004, when a snappily-dressed Mr Blair was sighted on the bow of a luxury cabin cruiser owned by the lawyer as he took a holiday in Bermuda with Cherie and three of their children.

When asked by the Mail on Sunday if he hosted the Prime Minister's Florida angling expedition, Mr. Williams said: "Yes." Questioned about the nature of his friendship with Mr. Blair, he said: "I want to be as polite as possible and that's probably not something I ought to be commenting on."

The newspaper concludes: "The disclosure that Mr. Blair and Mr. Williams enjoyed an outing together will inevitably prompt speculation that the Prime Minister and his wife are considering the purchase of a holiday home."

At the end of his first week-long trip to Bermuda three years ago, the Prime Minister praised the Island for allowing himself, Cherie and their four children such privacy during their holiday.

He said he would love to return, and members of the family have since made a number of trips back.

Mr. Blair told reporters in 2004: "I genuinely wanted to thank Bermuda for giving me a fantastic past few days. It has been absolutely wonderful and I have really, really enjoyed myself.

"The thing that has been the most wonderful has been the warmth of the people, whatever their background, whatever part of the Island, so on behalf of my family I'd like to thank you so much.

"It has certainly made me feel very warm towards Bermuda and it is great, and lovely for the family."

As well as spending time on the boat, Mr. Blair managed to play 30 minutes of an 11-a-side football match, three games of tennis, tour St. George's and Commissioner's House, and have dinner with Michael Douglas.

Mr. Williams has strong connections with Mrs. Blair, who is one of the UK's leading discrimination and employment law advocates. He was the chairman of the Bermuda Bar Association social committee which arranged to bring Mrs. Blair to the Island in May 2003 to speak at a Bar dinner.

Eyewitnesses claim that when Mr. Blair arrived at Soverel Harbour in the millionaires' playground of Palm Beach for his trip aboard Knot Guilty, he was flanked by a team of US secret service agents as well as his four regular Scotland Yard protection officers and a cavalcade of conspicuously-armed Florida police officers.

Several agents donned scuba-diving gear to check security around the dock where the yacht was anchored.

A spokesman for No 10 Downing Street said: "Cherie knows Justin as a colleague through the legal profession. No business was discussed."