Former British Prime Minister John Major has said that a deal between The Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) could hurt the peace process in Northern Ireland.

He has urged Theresa May to pull out of a deal with the DUP to prop her up in power, warning it risks a return of violence in Northern Ireland.

The former Prime Minister called the peace process "fragile" and said that it could fall apart if the British Government doesn't remain "impartial".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, John Major said in regards to the peace process that "People shouldn’t regard it as a given. It’s not certain, it’s under stress, it’s fragile."

Return of violence 

He also warned about the dangers of "hard men, lurking in the corners of communities deciding they wish to return to some sort of violence."

He said "We need to do everything we conceivably can to ensure that doesn’t happen, and that does require an impartial British government."

He said that currently the peace process in the North isn't in danger of falling apart, but there is the possibility that it could “unwind".

John Major finished by saying "I understand why she [Theresa May] wishes to shore up her Parliamentary position, but my main concern is the peace process.

“We need to be prepared for the unexpected. We need to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."