Millionaire's wife names Viagra as husband finds zest for a new life

VIAGRA, the anti-impotence pill, worked so well for a 70-year- old millionaire in the United States that he promptly left his wife for another woman.

Frank Bernardo was allegedly so delighted that he was able to make love to his wife, Roberta Burke, for the first time in four years that he left her for pastures new - and younger.

Ms Burke, 63, his companion for 10 years, said yesterday that Mr Bernardo told her: "It's time for me to be a stud again."

She has now launched a pounds 1.2m palimony suit in New York. Her lawyer, Dominic Barbara, said she is also thinking of suing Pfizer, which makes Viagra. "They should be liable for something like this. It's like giving a loaded gun to someone who has not been trained to shoot."

In her complaint, Ms Burke said Mr Bernardo, a retired construction industry executive, took his bottle of Viagra and left their million dollar flat on 5 May. He is now living with another woman in New Jersey, the lawsuit said.

Mr Barbara said the couple had lived together happily since 1988 and Mr Bernardo became impotent in 1994.

"She accepted this and tried to be loving. Then on 1 May, he went to the doctor and obtained a prescription for Viagra."

Court documents claim that two days later he successfully made love to Ms Burke and two days after that he left leaving a note to say their relationship was over.

The note said: "Hi Bobbi, Sorry but I'm leaving. Be back in a few days. Use Nations Bank money to move your belongings and my Mercedes for a couple of days. Sorry but it just isn't working out. Love Sonny."

Viagra was launched in the US last month to a storm of publicity and is enjoying huge sales despite a reported six deaths.