THE long-suffering villagers of Easterton had to endure one more media invasion last Thursday morning as Charles Ingram announced his decision to resign from his £43,362 a year post in the Army.

The residents have become inured to the sight of huge vans bearing vast satellite dishes on their roofs and the appearance of familiar faces from local TV news programmes sauntering along their High Street.

The media circus fitted neatly into the front garden of The Grange, the £350,000 neo-Georgian detached house which has been home to the Ingram family for the last three years, rented for them by the Army.

With an anxious eye on the clouds, David Thomas, the chief of South West News Agency, who has been the Ingrams' press liaison officer since the end of their trial at Southwark Crown Court earlier this year, gave assembled reporters and cameramen an off-the-record briefing.

As press reporters chatted among themselves and TV presenters criticised the appearance of the village, a documentary crew from the BBC darted in and out like hi-tech elves from a Harry Potter film.

When all was prepared, Mr Thomas gave his stars their on-stage call. Mr and Mrs Ingram, dressed smartly but casually, strolled through the front door and on to the lawn.

The television crews had placed two twigs crosswise on the lawn for the couple to stand on, but it took a few seconds before they were correctly positioned.

"You'll have to forgive me. I'm a bit nervous," said Mr Ingram quite an admission for a man who had won £1million on a TV quiz show, been called a cheat and endured a three-week trial at the end of which he was found guilty of fraud.

He read a prepared statement, his arm around his wife. In fact, he read it twice, the second time so that the TV crews could work in their return-angle shots.

The content of the statement came as no shock. It was well-known that the major had been due in front of an Army board hearing the previous week and his options were limited.

He said: "Knowing the embarrassment which recent court proceedings have caused the Army, and on receipt of direction from the Army board, I have today regretfully resigned my commission and I can confirm that I am no longer a serving officer."

He referred to his meagre pension, rumoured to amount to £13,000 a year, which he has contributed to over the last 17 years.

It is hardly enough to keep a family of two adults and three young daughters in the manner to which they are accustomed, let alone pay off the debts of £470,000 with which the Ingrams claim to be saddled.

So now Mr Ingram is on the job market. He said: "The idea that Diana and I will be able to live a life of ease without obtaining future employment is, I am afraid, an illusion.

"The skills and experience I have gained in the Army are invaluable and I can only hope there is an employer somewhere who will allow me to bring these skills to bear."

One thing is sure from last Thursday's performance, the world of stand-up comedy is unlikely to welcome him.

His attempts at humour, as he gave credence to the more barmy press reports that surrounded his conviction, were leaden.

He said: " I am not contracted to advertise any brand of cough medicine.

Later on he quipped: "It has regretfully become a term of derision for people in the public eye to speak about spending more time with their families."

After returning from Spain, where a friend has lent them the use of a holiday villa, the family will review their situation and decide what the future has in store for them.

Mr Ingram told the waiting journalists: "One thing I know is this: that we were a happy family before I appeared on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and no loss of face, no loss of money, no adversity whatsoever will damage the bond between us."

Unless they are consummate actors, the family's behaviour last Thursday bore that out. There was no hint of animosity in the household, except for one particular area.

The peace of mind of the family's Rhodesian Ridgeback dog, Simba, has been shattered by the arrival of a four-month-old West Highland terrier called Maggie.

"Poor Simba is terrified of her," said Mrs Ingram.