A ROYAL Navy veteran, aged 101, has won his battle to have his toenails cut for free on the National Health Service (NHS).

Raymond Perrett is believed to be the last surviving crew member of HMS Victory, Nelson's famous flagship, when it was still afloat.

The famous vessel is now a national monument in Portsmouth and Mr Perrett was the last crewman to run up the signal flags on Trafalgar Day, in 1921.

He is now a resident at the Willow House care home, in York, and his relatives reacted with outrage when health chiefs said he would have to wait a year to have his nails trimmed.

His son, Chris, 63, said it was farcical to put a 101-year-old on a 12-month waiting list.

But health chiefs said all cases were assessed on individual need - and now the former torpedo-firer has shot to the top of the toenail queue.

Chris Perrett had been forced to go private and pay £15 a time for his father's toenails to be clipped.

But now they have been cut by the NHS.

However, he said, a letter from the local primary care trust (PCT) had made it clear they did not think it was their job, it should have been done by care home staff.

"The NHS is saying that while we sort this row out, we will cut them for him, but as far as we are concerned it is not our job," he said.

He added that he could not understand why the care home staff would not do the job.

"I'm disappointed with their attitude," he said.

A spokesman for the PCT said one of their podiatrists had assessed and treated Mr Perrett during a routine appointment.

He added: "The guidance over the cutting of nails and whether this should be carried out as part of any assistance given by the staff at a care home as normal hygiene, is something we will be working with our colleagues on."