Defiant Stan Smith says he may use the new Human Rights Act to fight a council move to evict him from a doomed old people's home.

He spoke out as Arun councillors voted not to condemn West Sussex County Council for planning legal action to move him out of Nyewood House in Bognor.

Tory-run Arun rejected a motion to urge the county council not to evict Mr Smith but went on to support a plea to the Government to carry out a review into the needs of elderly people in West Sussex.

Mr Smith, 79, has refused offers of alternative accommodation and says he is determined to stay at Nyewood House, even though the other 40 residents have now moved out or died.

He said: "I am still fighting on and this new human rights business sounds like it might be a very good law to use.

"I have a right of tenancy and I have nothing at all that they can attack me on."

The county council claims Mr Smith's decision to reject alternative homes is denying more than 60 people help from social services because of the cost of keeping Nyewood House open.

But Mr Smith, who says no legal papers have been served on him, said: "I want this place to stay open and to be used for what it was intended for.

"They are always messing around and taking facilities away from people. I am more determined than ever."