A Surbiton man has ended his 10-day hunger strike against medication after securing his release from Tolworth Hospital.

Malcolm Wilkes, 53, a schizophrenic, was this week told that he would be returning home on Monday and would no longer have to take his medication, the focus of his campaign.

A meeting will take place at the beginning of next week to formalise Mr Wilkes release. But, during the week, he was given permission to visit his wife Androulla at their family home.

He believes she has been instrumental in securing his release by writing an impassioned letter to his doctor supporting her husbands desire to stop taking his drugs.

However, Androulla was warned that if her husband suffered a relapse he would be sectioned again.

Mr Wilkes was sectioned under the Mental Health Act 10 days ago and detained in Lilacs ward for refusing to take his medication.

Under the act, staff can administer medication against a patients will, but Mr Wilkes submitted to the treatment under protest.

Mr Wilkes said: Its hard to grasp after all this time that theyre finally taking notice of what Im saying.

Im beginning to feel hopeful again and looking forward to life without medication. I want to thank my wife for supporting me through this.

Androulla, 63, urged doctors to release him, assuring them that he was not a danger to her.

She said: I am relieved he is coming home. But the hospital warned me that if Malcolm gets bad they will section him again.

Chris Butler, chief nurse

of the South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust, said: It is our duty to keep people in our care under review. The decision to release someone is taken on clinical grounds as well as in consultation with the patient.

By.Steven Shukor