Winchester MP Mark Oaten has revealed how his affair with a male prostitute was a result of a mid-life crisis - and going bald.

The married father-of-two has broken his silence over the scandal that forced him to quit frontline politics and is reported as saying a 'dissatisfaction with politics' and a 'dramatic loss of hair in my late thirties' were factors in his downfall.

"I was turning 40 and I really felt that I was losing my youth. The problem was undoubtedly compounded by my dramatic loss of hair in my late 30s. This really knocked me for six. I started to look noticeably older," he said.

Hoping to 'end the public fascination and move on' the Lib Dem MP described how after being confronted about his gay affair he confessed to his wife Belinda and immediately launched into action to get the family out of their home in Bramdean near Winchester.

"Belinda and I snatched words about the practical issue of where to go. Our friends decided that she would go skiing with her mother and our girls, while I found a safe house."

Describing his getaway, he told of how his wife tried to hit him and how he was pushed over a garden fence to get to a car.

"She tried to hit me several times and threw her wedding ring back at me - and who could blame her?

"I was pushed over the garden fence and ran to a car. We sped through back lanes, trying to check we were not being followed."

He also described how he spent a fortnight sleeping in nine different places while running away from the press.

Apologising for his actions he reportedly said that he felt he may have had the affair to escape his life as a politician and that was trying to undermine his own career.

"I think there was an element of escapism in what I did. I suspect that in part I was trying to reclaim a private domain in my life; but I'm also convinced that I was trying fatally to undermine my own political career."

Despite ruling out any return to frontline politics the MP said he planned to remain in his seat for Winchester.

"I've decided to remain as an MP, at least for the time being," he said.

Within the personal account, written by Oaten for a national newspaper, he also apologises to his local constituents.

"I am very sorry to have let all these people down.

"I hope that by continuing as their MP I can repair some of the damage I have caused."