Mark NichollsTrain robber Ronnie Biggs was today moved from his hospital bed in Norfolk as he made the journey to a nursing home.The 80-year-old left the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital today.Mark Nicholls

Train robber Ronnie Biggs was today moved from his hospital bed in Norfolk as he made the journey to a nursing home.

The 80-year-old left the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital at around 2.45pm on his way to Barnet in north London.

Biggs was granted compassionate release from his prison sentence two weeks ago and is being moved so he can be near to his son, Michael.

His legal adviser, Giovanni di Stefano, said the nursing home would be Biggs' "final home".

He said: "He is being moved today to the nursing home, but he is still very, very ill, make no mistake.

"He is just well enough to be moved and that will be his final home.'

Mr di Stefano defended the taxpayer-funded care for his client, saying Biggs was getting "no more and no less' than anyone else.

He confirmed Biggs is now able to claim his state pension of �95.25 a week, backdated from the date of his formal release on August 7.

Biggs, who has suffered three strokes and is unable to walk, will still require 24-hour care in the nursing home.

Biggs was a member of the gang which robbed the Glasgow to London mail train at Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, in 1963. They stole �2.6 million in used banknotes but were caught and given sentences of up to 30 years.

After just 15 months inside Biggs escaped over a wall at Wandsworth Prison and lived as a fugitive in Australia and Brazil, avoiding repeated attempts to bring him home.

Then in 2001, after falling ill, he returned to the UK voluntarily and was sent back to prison.