Grace Weaving, 93, who lives in Long Meadow, with Mike Dutton, 65, has become very ill over the past few weeks and insists she wants to stay at home and die there.

But after her weight plummeted to under six stone two weeks ago, her partner and carer Mike Dutton asked her doctor from the Kirby Road practise if they could send in a nurse to help care for her.

Mr Dutton claims the doctor said unless Mrs Weaving goes into hospital for a biopsy, he would not be able to get any help from nurses sent to the house.

Mr Dutton said: "Grace is not strong enough to go into hospital and she wants to stay at home and die."

After the Dunstable Gazette contacted the Kirby Road practise, two district nurses arrived at Mrs Weaving's house the same evening.

And now the couple have been told they will receive daily visits from a nurse.

Mr Dutton said: "It's thanks to the paper - I can't thank you enough but you should not have to go to these lengths."

See the full story in this week's Dunstable Gazette, on sale now at 40p