Sir Tom Jones has admitted that he has written his first song about his wife after 51 years of marriage.

The track, 'The Road', appears on the veteran singer's new album '24 Hours', which is out this week.

Asked how the song came together, Sir Tom told a Welsh newspaper: "Ok, so she said 'I know you have been married a long time'.

"I said, yes, she said 'How do you feel about that? How have you managed that?' I said 'Well the road always leads back to Linda you know'. She said, 'The Road, write it down'.

"Before we knew where we were there was this song being written and you know it all pointed to my wife - which was fine because I have never written a song about my wife. So it is a thank-you for being there for over 50 years now."

Jones, who has earned a reputation as a ladies' man during his career, spoke fondly of his relationship with his “quiet wife”.

“I respect her privacy and she understands that and she knows that I have to go and sing, she knows that, she always knew,” he said.

(by Jason Gregory)