The primary care trust has refused to pay for the drug

Barry Richards, 71, of Tipton, in the Black Country, has been told by his consultant that the drug Sutent is his best hope of fighting kidney cancer.

But Sandwell Primary Care Trust has said it will not pay for Mr Richards to use it, leaving him to fund it himself.

Sutent hit the headlines recently when friends of music mogul Tony Wilson, who has since died, set up a fund of more than �3,000 a month to pay for it.

'Absolutely outraged'

The drug does not cure the cancer, but can extend a patient's life.

Mr Richards' daughter Debbie said: "We are absolutely outraged by this decision not to be able get this drug.

"My father worked hard all his life, he paid into this country and I just cannot believe they are saying now that they will not help him."

She said the family had clubbed together to fund the drug for their father for the next few months.

'Exceptional basis'

But Mr Richards fears he will have to sell his house in order to pay for Sutent in the long run.

Sandwell PCT said Sutent was still being considered by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and it would only consider funding the drug in the interim on an "exceptional basis".

A spokesperson said: "A patient will not normally be funded, unless exceptional circumstances apply and the PCT bases its decisions on three conditions: effectiveness, equity and patient choice.