CULTURE secretary James Purnell was under renewed pressure today after a second `doctored' picture from a hospital rebuilding project emerged.

The M.E.N. uncovered the original `fake' picture row in September after a photo shoot staged at Tameside Hospital.

The MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, who has previously blasted media manipulation and spin, was late for the photo- shoot and his picture was digitally added later to a group to give the appearance that he had been there.

When the news of the doctored photograph broke, Mr Purnell claimed he had not known he had been added.

But a spokeswoman has now admitted that an e-mail explaining about the `doctored' photograph had been sent by the hospital to his constituency e-mail address two days before.

Now a second mocked-up photograph of him on a balcony at the same launch event can be revealed - and it has also emerged that the minister was sent e-mails in advance telling of plans to `mock up' the publicity pictures.

Copies were also attached to the two e-mails, according to reports.

But Mr Purnell today insisted he did not read the e-mails. In a statement he said: "I did not ask for my photograph to be used in this way, nor did I authorise it.

"I assumed that it would be clear that the photograph of me had been taken separately. These e-mails did not ask for my authorisation of the photo that was distributed, nor was any given. I did not see the emails or the photo until after it had been distributed."

According to reports, one e-mail s ent to the minister, released by the hospital after a Freedom of Information request, read: "I am pleased we were able to catch the photographer so that he could `drop you into the photographs'."

The e-mail was not shown to the minister because of a `filtering' process to deal with the large number received in the office, his spokeswoman said.

She added: "This is the practice in many MPs' constituency offices and over the last three months around 1,750 have been sent to this address.

"The e-mails sent by the hospital were for information only and did not request any follow-up action. James did not see these e-mails or the photo before the story broke and the constituency office did not reply to either of these emails." Tweet