A WAR veteran who has waged a bitter battle against Lancashire County Council over the care of his wife said he is delighted she has now been moved to a new nursing home in Accrington.

Dennis Cramp, 80, of Maudsley Street, Accrington, moved his wife from The Hollies Nursing and Residential Home in Clayton-le-Moors last Monday to the newly-opened Belvedere on Wellington Street, Accrington.

Former paratrooper Dennis and Austrian-born Maria, 89, have been married for 56 years.

He said she seemed content and settled in her new home.

Dennis added: "I'm totally happy. Things are beautiful here.

"I'm here all day because she would be a bigger burden otherwise."

He said Maria was beginning to speak more and was more lively and animated.

Mr and Mrs Cramp's case had been scheduled to feature in a BBC2 programme last Thursday about the care of the elderly but at the last minute he was edited out of the show.

Dennis said: "I wasn't on it in the end.

"I imagine my contribution, which was filmed three months ago, was cut because I declined to go to London for the final rehearsal and editing.

"I couldn't make Maria understand that I couldn't come to see her for two days.

"It wouldn't have been right for me to disappear for two days because she could have imagined anything."

However, their treatment was highlighted on Channel Five News on Bank Holiday Monday morning ahead of the broadcast of another programme about elderly care.

Dennis added: "I'm taking better care of myself now.

"My stress level has reduced now Maria is improving."

Maria first went into The Hollies after falling and later suffering a stroke in December 2005.

She was treated in hospital after the fall and Lancashire Social Services made the decision to transfer her to a care home, in spite of Dennis's protests that he could care for her at home.

In January this year Dennis won a compromise in his legal battle against LCC, allowing him to take Maria home up to seven times a week.