A GWENT man dying from cancer looks set to go home from hospital today and spend his last Christmas with his devoted wife.

Michael Davies, 61, of Chartist Way, Blackwood, has bone cancer and may only have weeks to live.

He was promised he would be able to join his devoted wife, Hilary, 53, at home for Christmas.

Specialist equipment was placed in their home - but then Mr Davies was told he would not be able to leave Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital because there was a problem with getting nursing care for him for the holidays.

However, last night, a delighted Mrs Davies was told by the Argus that her husband is likely to return home for Christmas.

"This is the best news I have ever had and I would like to thank you for everything you have done, I am so grateful," she told us.

"It will be wonderful to see a smile back on his face when I tell him at the hospital tonight. "This is the best Christmas present that I could ever have."

Yesterday a spokeswoman at the Royal Gwent Hospital revealed to the Argus: "We are hopeful that everything will be in place for Mr Davies to return home to his wife on Monday."

She added: "Our only concern throughout was for the patient and his safe discharge, and that there was no negligence on our part."

A charity called World Care, based in Treharris, came forward yesterday with the offer of paying for a specialist nurse to attend to Mr Davies over Christmas.

But the hospital spokeswoman refuted any allegations that the problem over Mr Davies' discharge was down to money - and said the only concern had been for the patient's welfare.

It has been an incredible turnaround for Mrs Davies, who made a heartbroken plea on Saturday for her husband's return.

She said: "Michael is very upset by the news that he can't come home, and he's going downhill faster because of it."

Unable to hold back the tears, she sobbed: "I love him and we just want to spend as much time as we can with each other.

"He is all I've got. Without him I have no-one." The couple do not have any children.

Mr Davies became ill with cancer three years ago and was taken to the Royal Gwent on November 21, the day of the couple's 31st wedding anniversary' and he has not been home since then.

Today, the couple should be finally reunited at home and able to spend their last Christmas together.