Angus Macpherson, the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, is now described as “stable and improving” in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Mr Macpherson was flown by air ambulance to the RUH last Friday morning after being taken ill during an official engagement in Trowbridge.

Chief Constable Pat Geenty visited Mr Macpherson’s family at the hospital today.

Mr Geenty said: “The commissioner has this afternoon been sitting up in bed and talking to his family. His condition is now described as ‘stable and improving’.

“I passed on to the family the best wishes of all at Wiltshire Police for a speedy recovery. They asked me to thank the many well-wishers who have sent messages.”

Mr Macpherson was taken ill whilst visiting Dr Andrew Murrison, the MP for South West Wiltshire, at his constituency offices on the White Horse Business Park in Trowbridge.

Mr Macpherson had organised a round of meetings with MPs in the Wiltshire Police area to brief them on the contents of his annual report.