VIRGINIA Bottomley has spoken to The Herald about the "pornographic and revolting" letters she has received for the last five years from a mystery stalker who targets famous women.

The South West Surrey MP has revealed that both she and her doctor daughter Cecilia have received obscene letters.

Other victims in the 25-year campaign include the actresses Joanna Lumley, Dame Diana Rigg, Felicity Kendal, Susan Hampshire and Penelope Keith, who lives near Mrs Bottomley in Milford.

Television presenters Anna Ford, Sue Lawley and Julia Somerville have also revealed they have been targets, as well as Anne Heseltine, wife of ex-deputy prime minister Michael.

A national appeal to catch the person behind the letters was launched on BBC One's Crimewatch UK.

Speaking to The Herald this week, Mrs Bottomley, who has represented south west Surrey since 1984, said she had received several of the letters - most recently six months ago - and has no idea of the sender's identity.

She has passed the letters, sent to her Westminster office and Isle of Wight holiday home, to the police.

"I was quite alarmed when they started, especially when he addressed a letter to my daughter at the hospital where she worked.

"When he sent a revolting letter to me at the sailing club in the Isle of Wight it felt like he was tracking our movements, but when it became clear he was writing a great number of letters I was less frightened."

The former health and heritage secretary said receiving unpleasant mail is nothing new, but the prolonged nature of this campaign was more unsettling.

"When I had a high profile as a Cabinet minister my weirdo mailbag was quite large and hardly a day went by without getting something, so for some years I've been cautious about staying alone overnight."

She added that having a "strong protective husband" in Peter, Conservative MP for Worthing, gives her some peace of mind.

"It's a real dilemma as an MP because I want to be accessible. It's important people know I live at the centre of the constituency and I don't want to be aloof."

She added that receiving such unwanted attention is one of the reasons why she would not welcome a return to government.

"I've spoken to other women who receive the same degree of publicity and it's almost as though you become public property.

"It's one of the reasons I enjoy working in the constituency but recoil from anything high profile.

"I think women in public life receive an unfair degree of scrutiny. I don't mind discussing politics but it's the degree of personal invasion that's a source of concern, especially when your children have their privacy invaded."