A POLICE officer in serious condition after last week’s nerve agent attack has released a statement through Wiltshire Police.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey remains in Salisbury District Hospital after coming into contact with a nerve agent while attending the scene where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found on  Sunday.

The statement said: “Nick would like us to say on his behalf that he and his family are hugely grateful for all the messages of support from the public, and colleagues from the police family.

“People have been so kind and he has expressed that he will never forget that kindness.

“He also wishes to say that he was part of a group of officers and other emergency service colleagues who dealt with the initial incident.

“He wants to say that he does not consider himself a ‘hero’, he states he was merely doing his job - a job he loves and is immensely proud of - just like all of his other dedicated colleagues do, day in-day out, in order to protect the public and keep people safe.

“He would like to thank everyone once again for all of their kind thoughts and best wishes, they are truly appreciated.

“He asks respectfully that the media allow his family privacy at this difficult time.”