The wife of a Parkinson's Disease sufferer branded the charge an attack on the vulnerable and a breach of free personal care for the elderly.

But the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman ruled that Stirling Council was entitled to make the decision.

A report published by the ombudsman also cleared the local authority of flouting the free care legislation.

The complainer, identified as Mrs C, who is her husband's primary carer, had a mobile emergency care system (Mecs) installed in their home in 2002.

'Discriminating' decision

This enabled crisis calls to be picked up 24 hours a day by a council contact centre.

Mrs C complained to the council and later to the ombudsman when the authority decided to introduce a charge of £1 a week, with flexible payment methods.

She claimed the decision discriminated against the most at-risk in the community, adding: "I appreciate that it does cost to supply the service but I don't think the council could stoop any lower than this, by attacking the most vulnerable in our society."