BUSINESSMAN Michael Webb has been sacked from his £32,000-a-year job for accessing pornography from the internet.

Mr Webb, manager of the West Wiltshire Economic Partnership, which is made up of private and council bodies, was found to have visited sites in contravention to internet policy.

The discovery was made by experts employed by West Wiltshire District Council to monitor internet use.

Mr Webb, whose wife Debbie has just had the couple's first baby, said he was considering appealing against his dismissal.

He said: This has had a devastating effect on me and people close to me but there is more than one side to this story.

District council chief executive Jeffrey Ligo, who is also on the board of the economic partnership, said had left the board with no option but to dismiss Mr Webb.

Mr Webb, in his 40s and from Bath, has been involved in initiatives to bring new businesses to West Wiltshire, including the arrival of Virgin Mobile last year.

It is understood the pornographic material accessed by Mr Webb, who was based at Trinity House in Trowbridge, was of an adult nature and did not involve any illegal material.

Police were not contacted during the inquiry.