A pensioner has finally left the old people's home where he lived after failing in a legal battle to stay there.

Stan Smith, 80, walked out of Nyewood House in Bognor with his head held high, ending the prospect of his being marched out by bailiffs.

He stopped at the front door to wave to his supporters and then shouted: "They'll never defeat the British. Don't forget it."

Stan had faced eviction from the complex in Hawthorn Road after defying the efforts of West Sussex County Council to shut the building he has called home for 14 years.

But earlier this week the last remaining resident decided to end his struggle after his legal team failed to overturn a possession order for his room, which the county council won after a court hearing last month.

Stan sat quietly in the lounge of Nyewood House, puffing on hand rolled cigarettes and sipping a cup of tea, as he waited for relatives to take him to a privately-run residential home, also in Bognor, where a new room paid for by the county council was waiting.

He said: "In a way I will be relieved it's all over because of all the stress and pressure.

"But I do think it was worth making a stand because all this has become nationally known. I don't think people in the country realise what is happening to homes like this."

Stan's supporters put up placards outside the home wishing him well as he was driven away from Nyewood House which was once home to more than 40 residents.

One read: "Good luck Stan in your new home. Your stand for the elderly has been noted all over the UK."

Stan's sister Dorothy said: "All the family hope he will be happy.

"To a certain extent we are relieved but at the same time it is the end of an era because there used to be a thriving and happy community here at Nyewood House.

"Then they received their letters saying the home was going to close and you could see the deterioration overnight."

The county council says it will use the savings from closing homes like Nyewood House to finance improved home and day care facilities because it says most elderly people want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

A spokesman said: "We are delighted this is over and that Mr Smith has taken up the offer of alternative accommodation and we are sure he will enjoy himself."

Stan's decision to leave brings to an end a fierce campaign which started almost two years ago.

The county council has made no official comment on what will now happen to the building and another empty property in the same grounds but both are certain to be sold to developers for housing schemes.

Among the supporters who watched Stan being driven away was Bognor's mayor, Sylvia Olliver, who is also a West Sussex councillor and had voted against the closure.

She said: "This is dreadfully sad but Stan has kept his dignity throughout."