A jilted husband is on the run after locking his wife in an outside toilet and trying to flatten it with a JCB.

Peter Rigden, 64, went berserk after his 45-year-old French wife Gabrielle demanded a divorce.

He allegedly lured her into the toilet block beside their £1.2 million home and trapped her inside after claiming he needed help changing a light bulb.

The businessman is then said to have driven the mechanical digger into the building but his terrified wife escaped in the nick of time and ran to a neighbour's house to dial 999.

Mr Rigden then torched his office and swimming pool complex, stables, a car and several gas canisters in the grounds of their Tudor house in Crawley Down.

Dozens of armed police officers surrounded the house for two hours, thinking the businessman might be inside, but he had fled in his green Land Rover. Police launched a manhunt following his escape yesterday morning and say he may have a gun and could be suicidal.

Gabrielle was treated for cuts and bruises and has been placed under armed guard with the couple's two teenage children.

It is understood Mr Rigden's office supplies firm, Techna Ltd in East Grinstead, failed last July.

He is thought to have lost his temper after Gabrielle told him she wanted 70 to 80 per cent of the value of their home following their split.

Last week he surrendered six guns to police but it is feared he kept two.

He had separated from Gabrielle but still lived at the house despite his wife telling him just weeks ago she wanted a divorce.

A neighbour said: "I saw him drive off. Apparently he had a gun and said he was going to the school."

Police want to question Mr Rigden on suspicion of false imprisonment.

The bearded businessman is described as 5ft 8in and stocky with brown eyes and wavy white hair. He walks with a limp. His Land Rover's registration number is H399 HJN.