Croydon Central MP Andrew Pelling was arrested at his home yesterday following a complaint from his wife Lucy.

The twice married dad-of-three was taken to a police station yesterday morning and questioned over allegations of assault.

Mr Pelling, who is also a London Assembly member for Croydon and Sutton, was released on bail last night without being charged. He is due to return to a south London police station on October 1.

The 48-year-old, who won the Croydon Central seat in 2005 by just 75 votes, married Lucy in November last year.

Lucy, a former teacher at Park Hill Junior School in Croydon, became embroiled in a love-triangle, portrayed as Tory sleaze in the national press, after starting a relationship with Mr Pelling while he was still married to his first wife Sanae.

Sanae reportedly left Mr Pelling before news of his relationship with Lucy became public knowledge.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man in his 40s was arrested on September 18 at an address in south London in connection with allegations of assault.

He was taken to a south London police station and was bailed to return on October 1. The alleged victim is a female in her 20s."

Constituency officer for Croydon south and central councillor Richard Chatterjee said: "Andrew is well-known as a good public servant and has done a lot for the people. The matter is in the hands of the police now and that's all I can say."