News Shopper journalists have had a whip-round for an 81-year-old who had his cash frozen by social services for spending too much on prostitutes.

Former newspaper print worker Albert Skipper, who forked out some £6,500 on call girls in nine weeks, was told to limit his sex life by council kill-joys.

Group editor Andrew Parkes visited the sprightly pensioner at his sheltered accommodation flat in Eltham, south east London, to hand over the money.

He said: "It was extremely refreshing to meet an elderly person who still wants to get out there and enjoy himself. We hope the £40 brings him some pleasure."

He said that the pensioner started seeing a prostitute to take away the loneliness after his wife died - but Greenwich Council took control of his finances through a court order to stop him squandering £85,000 from the sale of his maisonette.

The defiant pensioner has now been forced to limit his spending to £90 a week.

He told News Shopper: "They are stopping my money because they don't want me to spend it on call girls. What do I want to save money for? I'm 81.

"You can't stop nature. I like to enjoy myself. Being on your own is a killer. My wife was a professional singer, we were married for 55 years. I really loved her and I miss her."

After the story appeared, support for his plight grew and a local businessman started a petition calling on the council to back off.

Demolition boss Simon Trew said: "Why shouldn't an 81-year-old man be pampered by some 35-year-old call girl and feel nice? He wants to have a bit of fun. Good luck to him."

Albert's £104-a-week state pension and his £14-a-week pension from the Daily Telegraph, where he worked as a machine operator, are looked after by social services. He hopes to draw up a new will leaving money to charities such as the Emphysema Society in memory of his late wife, Anna. But he has been told he must undergo medical tests and prove he is of sound mind.

A Greenwich Council spokesman told the News Shopper: "There's no moral judgement from ourselves on how he spends his £90-a-week."

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