Ananova:

Former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies and his estranged wife Christina are close to finalising their divorce.

The couple's 18-year marriage broke down more than a year ago, in the wake of Ron Davies' "moment of madness" on south London's Clapham Common which prompted Mr Davies's resignation from the Government.

Mr Davies, who admitted later that he was bisexual, said at the time of the separation that the couple, who have a teenage daughter, had "irreconcilable differences."

It has now been confirmed that the divorce terms are due to be formalised at a private hearing in Swansea in late December, with the divorce process being finalised thereafter.

Kizzi Nkwocha, a spokesman for Mrs Davies, said: "It has taken a while but it looks like things have finally come to a conclusion."

The divorce terms will not be made public, Mr Nkwocha said. A spokesman for Mr Davies confirmed that the hearing had been scheduled for late December.

Mr Davies, the Caerphilly MP, quit the Government after the October 1998 incident on Clapham Common in which he was robbed after striking up a conversation with a stranger.

Last September, Mr Davies said he would be leaving the House of Commons at the forthcoming General Election to concentrate on his work as a member of the National Assembly for Wales.

In August, he said he had completed treatment for a compulsive disorder which led him to seek out high risk situations.