Pensioner Ivy Beck has been saved from homelessness after her plight touched the heart of Argus readers.

Danny Thomas pledged £1,200 to the Beck family after he read Ivy's tragic story.

We told how the 83-year-old risked losing her bed in Rottingdean Nursing Home after the owner put up the fees.

Ivy was told by Social Services she could have no extra money to pay for her care, so she faced having to leave her home of the last 13 years.

Mr Thomas, of Palmiera Mansions, Hove, was so moved by Ivy's story he gave £1,200 in cash to her family. The money will cover the increase in her nursing home fees for more than a year.

Another reader, Jason Collins, pledged to pay for Ivy's care on behalf of his company Southern Care Limited. Together with business partner Colin Warner, the Worthing businessman promised he would pay the Beck a monthly amount to keep the paralysed pensioner in her home.

Mr Collins said: "We try to do something each year to help local people, and we wanted to do what we could to help."

Mr Thomas said it was disgusting that someone as frail and helpless as Ivy should find herself in such a situation.

He said: "It's such a terrible shame. I would like to offer the £1,200 to cover her for the next year - and if I'm still alive and kicking after, that I'll carry on."

He handed over the bundle of money to Ivy's son David and his wife Monica Beck, of Peacehaven. She said: "It's so unbelievable. I couldn't help crying when he gave us the money. He said when he read it in the paper he wanted to do something to help."

Monica intends to set up a trust fund with Mr Thomas's gift and the donation from Southern Care Ltd.

Ivy and up to four other pensioners faced being forced out of their home after the fees were put up by £98.20 per month. But owner Jon Breeds said he had to raise the money in order to stay afloat.