A royal commission today condemned the government for its failure to introduce free personal care for the elderly throughout the UK.

Four years after it was appointed to look into the matter after Labour's 1997 election victory, it delivered its report recommending the state should pay long-term care costs.

The nine commissioners issued an unprecedented statement warning that the problem remains ''acute and a matter of major public concern''.

While the government has since agreed to pay for nursing care, only the Scottish Executive has gone on to pay for personal care - such as help with washing, cooking and eating - as well.

The commissioners, chaired by Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, said the result was thousands of elderly people in the rest of the UK were being reduced to ''penury'' and forced to sell their homes before any state aid kicked in. They urged ministers to intervene to end the ''anomalies and injustices'' of the present system.

''Many of the current generation of older people and their families continue to feel betrayed by the failure of what they had been led to believe was a 'cradle to grave' welfare state to fund their care properly,'' the statement said.

''Some are struggling inappropriately with care at home because they cannot afford the residential care they need. Others are bitter at the enforced loss of their home, and of the dignity that goes with it, to pay for their care.''

The timing of the statement, which coincides with the start of Labour's party conference in Bournemouth, could hardly be more embarrassing for ministers.

Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat spokesman for the elderly. said their care was going to become a key election issue.