Former England rugby player Ben Cohen has been criticised by his mother-in-law Felicity Bassouls after he released a statement dismissing rumours about his marriage split.

Earlier this week, the 36-year-old rejected reports that his former Strictly Come Dancing partner Kristina Rihanoff had any involvement in his split with wife Abigail, with whom he has twin daughters.

After releasing the statement on Facebook, Cohen's mother-in-law responded by describing the former sportsman as a "bully" and that he has broken her daughter's heart.

According to The Express, Mrs Bassouls wrote: "I cannot believe what Ben Cohen has written. I am afraid to say, when you are a celebrity and in the limelight, you have to treat people with the same respect that you expect from the public.

"I have experienced a great deal of bullying from you myself. Your behaviour has been so disrespectful and very intimidating not just to myself but my husband also.

"I know you very well Mr Ben Cohen and I am not going to stand back and let you bully and intimidate me again. You have broken my daughter's heart and the little girls' and also my heart."

Cohen and his wife have been married for 11 years.