AN Internet company has apologised to Health Secretary Alan Milburn after posting his personal details on a dating website.

It is believed details about the Darlington MP were put on the DatingDirect.com website by a practical joker and it was three days before the dating agency bosses realised.

The entry said he was looking for a "mature but discreet" relationship, even though Mr Milburn has a long-term partner and two children.

Other details about Mr Milburn's interests, height, hair colour and age were correct and they appeared along with a photo of the minister.

Bosses at the website only realised their mistake when a member of the public contacted them and the entry was removed immediately.

An apology was then issued to Mr Milburn after it was revealed that various people had checked the entry before it had gone on the website but they had failed to recognise him.

Darren Richards, the managing director of DatingDirect.com said: "We make every effort possible to verify an entry before it goes live.

"They are vetted by a number of editors, but obviously they weren't familiar with this particular person.

"Of course, being a politician does not prevent you from dating. Robin Cook's wife met her new husband on an Internet dating website."

No one from Mr Milburn's office was available for comment last night.