Nigella Lawson will make “no comment” over the photographs published in the Daily Mirror which appear to show her husband Charles Saatchi with his hands around her throat after a public argument.

Police are now investigating reports of the alleged row following the emergence of photographs which appear to show the art collector with his hand around Lawson’s neck as the pair sat on the terrace of a restaurant on June 9.

Lawson, 53, the daughter of former chancellor Lord Lawson, was then seen weeping following the episode outside Scott’s in Mayfair, central London.

She reportedly left her Chelsea home on Sunday with her 17-year-old son, Bruno.

An onlooker told The Daily Mirror: “Nigella looked on edge but Bruno was very protective of her and keen to look after her.”

Saatchi also reportedly left the house on Sunday but returned later refusing to comment.