A pensioner has vowed to starve himself to death in protest at his treatment in prison.

Former Bingley farmer and horse breeder Norman Scarth, 77, says he will refuse food and water at the Wolds Prison on Humberside unless he is allowed to use a computer at the jail.

The World War Two veteran, who is serving a six-year sentence after being convicted of wounding with intent, has said he only expects to live for five days without eating or drinking.

He wants to use the computer to work on an appeal and a pending damages claim he is bringing against West Yorkshire Police, but said he had been denied access to it.

Speaking from the private jail where he is being held near Beverley, Mr Scarth said he was prepared to die unless he was allowed access to the computer in the prison library. He claimed he was legally entitled to use it.

The pensioner, who now weighs less than eight stones after losing four stones since he was imprisoned two years ago, said: "I don't want to starve myself. I have too much to do.

"But I am prepared to die for this. I don't know whether I have got the mental strength, but I would be proud to die.

"For the last four weeks I have had nothing but water, sugar, salt and an ounce of porridge a day. But from today I am going on full hunger strike. I am not even going to drink water.

"It is my absolute right in law to have access to a computer and I was going to get it two weeks ago. But ever since there has been an excuse why it can't happen.

"There is one in the library for me but when I went there on Sunday I wasn't allowed to use it, even though another prisoner was. They would rather see me die than give me access to the computer. I am fighting back with the only weapon I have."

Mr Scarth, who served on Russian convoys in the Arctic during the Second World War, was convicted of wounding a bailiff as he was evicted from a house in Leeds in 1999. He was jailed two years ago.

But the pensioner alleged he was assaulted and injured by police officers and is claiming damages against West Yorkshire Police.

Mr Scarth's brother, Jack, 75, of Leeds, said: "I am very worried about him. I went to see him last Friday and he didn't look well.

"He looks haggard and his arms are like match-sticks. He has also grown a Robinson Crusoe-type beard which makes him look a bit wild."

A spokesman for Group 4 Security, which runs the Wolds Prison, said: "We are monitoring Mr Scarth closely, and that includes health care professionals."