A murderer serving life for battering a pensioner to death with a hammer has been removed from rehabilitation work in an old people's home, the Home Office said today.

Brian Parsons, 40, is serving life in Ford Open prison, near Arundel, for the 1987-murder of 84-year-old Ivy Batten at her remote bungalow in Shute Bottom, east Devon.

The move follows criticism from Age Concern and Victim Support, but has today been condemned by his wife Annette as "absolutely ridiculous".

Today, he had been due to start a three-day-a-week job at an unidentified old peoples' home near the prison, carrying out odd jobs as part of his rehabilitation.

The prison even provided Parsons with a bicycle so he could fetch shopping for the residents. But when news of the placement emerged, it was criticised as "insensitive", and Age Concern believes the prison authorities should reconsider.

The governor of Ford Prison was not available for comment.

But a Prison Service spokesman said the area manager for prisons had reviewed Parsons' placement and he had been removed from it.

He added that Parsons, from Colyton, east Devon, would be found other outside work as part of his rehabilitation.

His wife Annette, whom he married while in jail in 1996, said today when told of his removal from the placement: "I can't believe this. It's absolutely ridiculous."

She said Parsons had been working outside the jail for one day a week since February. He had been helping prepare old people's lunches at a church hall.

Parsons had been allowed to visit his wife for nine hours at her home last month for the first time.

He has always maintained his innocence but has lost two appeals against his conviction.

His lawyers are now preparing to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.