THE husband whose wife had an affair with MP James Gray has written to the Gazette attacking him.

Last week Mr Gray, 52, admitted to the Gazette he has had a relationship with 44-year-old countryside campaigner Philippa Mayo for the past 19 months and that his wife Sarah is leaving him.

Mr Mayo wrote: "I have been invited to comment to numerous national newspapers and other media. I have refused to do so.

"However, some of the comments made by the MP for North Wiltshire in your newspaper demand comment.

First, he says that he deeply regrets the pain and suffering I have caused'.

"This pain and suffering will continue for decades as my children adjust to having parents 125 miles apart.

"If this is a genuine sentiment, why did the man not make any effort to terminate the relationship during its 19-month course? Many of us have to make difficult choices which do not always suit our own selfish ends.'' Meanwhile Mr Gray has said he is determined to continue his duties as usual despite the furore over his affair.

He held his usual constituency surgery on Saturday morning and was at Redland School in Chippenham on Tuesday to see the school's new healthy lunch menu. He said: "Whatever has happened in my private life has nothing to do with my duties as an MP and the people of North Wiltshire would not expect me to stop carrying out those duties.'' In his weekly Gazette column he writes that he was taken aback by the media coverage last week after other newsapers, both local and national, followed up the Gazette's story.

"When marriages sadly end, as mine has now done, that is agony enough without it being conducted in the glare of publicity which we have had over the last week or two,'' he writes.

"The media circus helps no one.

"So I will be doing my best to carry out my constituency duties in as quiet and conscientious way as I can over the next weeks and months, and hope that the media - and my constituents alike - will allow Sarah and me, and the family, time and space and privacy and understanding to try to sort out the rest of our lives.'' Mrs Gray returned home from a holiday in Morocco on Friday in time to see the coverage of Mr Gray's affair. She was said to be "deeply unhappy'' about the national newspaper coverage.

Mr Gray said last week that his wife, who comes originally from Winchester, will be moving out of the family's home in Slaughterford.

He said that in the fullness of time he intends to marry Mrs Mayo, who has a 14-year-old son and two daughters aged 12 and nine.

She has moved out of the home she shares with Mr Mayo in Leicestershire.