Sacked Tory frontbencher John Redwood is appealing for his supporters not to attack party leader William Hague over his dismissal.

Mr Redwood - who once challenged John Major for the Tory leadership - lost his position as shadow environment spokesman on Tuesday to millionaire businessman Archie Norman.

Mr Redwood told the BBC on Friday: "Today I just want to say a big thank you to all those who have written in, telephoned, sent e-mails.

"They have all been so kind, and I am very grateful to them.

"But it's now time to press on with the Conservative task, which is opposing the government."

Mr Redwood's dismissal sparked a wave of protests on the Tory right, including an angry condemnation from his Woking constituency party.

The former Welsh secretary is seen as hard working and tenacious in his attacks on the government, but rumours of his dismissal and that of other former members of the Major government surfaced in the press last year.

Asked whether he had lost the party votes because he was seen as being "a bit strange", Mr Redwood replied: "I don't accept that criticism.

"I think every senior politician on television attracts some supporters and puts other people off."