The wife of a multimillionaire mushroom farmer was refused a divorce after a judge ruled that her husband's constant berating about her affair was to be "expected in a marriage".

Tini Owens, 65, claimed she was "locked in" to the 37-year-old marriage with Hugh Owens, 78, after a divorce judge rejected her petition to leave in a highly unusual decision last year.

She said his "continued beratement", including criticising her in front of their housekeeper, rowing with her in an airport shop and not speaking during a meal, amounted to unreasonable behaviour.

The details emerged at a hearing at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, where Mrs Owens is asking judges to overturn the decision.