Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs was freed from the handcuffs and chain used to secure him to a hospital bed last night.

His son Michael said the 71-year-old had been uncuffed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, south-east London.

Michael, 26, criticised the "inhumane" treatment by prison authorities in the 72 hours since the frail crook was admitted to hospital following a suspected stroke.

Speaking outside the hospital, he said his father was also due to have an operation to insert a feeding tube into his stomach.

The robber, who returned to Britain from self-imposed exile in Brazil last month, had tried to communicate with Michael and indicated he was "terribly worried" about his health.

"In the last few minutes, the handcuffs and the chain have been removed," said Michael.

"It's taken over 72 hours for this to happen - it was horrible and obviously unnecessary. My father has trouble doing anything for himself.

"The handcuffs caused him further unnecessary suffering and were bruising him as well. It was inhumane."

His father, who has previously suffered two strokes and a minor heart attack, is unable to speak and can only communicate by writing or moving his hand.

Michael added: "In the circumstances, he is clearly unfit to be returned to prison.

"Should the Home Office return him to a prison which does not have the facilities to offer proper, humane care, his lawyers will be asking the Divisional Court to judicially review any such decision."

Michael told reporters he did not know whether the decision to unchain the former fugitive was taken by Home Secretary Jack Straw, or if it had come from lower down in the Home Office.