A disabled pensioner is on his ninth day of a hunger strike in protest at a south Wales council's decision to charge for home care.

With his condition "deteriorating" Peter Sewell from Mountain Ash in the south Wales Valleys, said he was prepared to die to draw attention to the plight of those who cannot afford to pay for care.

Welfare officer Anne Stevens Bevan said she was appalled that social services were allowing him to continue his protest.

"At his age he should not have to be doing this, she said.

As well as having a life-threatening kidney disease, the 70-year-old also suffers from heart problems and is confined to a wheelchair.

He is demanding that Plaid Cymru-led Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council provide free home care for those who need it.

The authority introduced charges - which come into effect next month - ranging from £5 to £15 per week for home carers.

Meanwhile, Mr Sewell is continuing to collected signatures to support of his action and hopes to gather 10,000.

But Rhondda Cynon Taff council insisted the charges were relatively low compared to the rest of Wales and that they were necessary to raise around £950,000 a year for the services.

A spokesman for the council said the action taken by Mr Sewell was regrettable and appealed to him to reconsider his action.