The high court has ruled that an anorexic woman, who has eaten any solid food for more than a year, should be made to eat food forcibly.

Mr Justice Peter Jackson ruled that the woman should be force fed even through the family of the patient identified as "E" did not want any judicial intervention into the case. The women, who was a former health student, lives in Wales and is being cared for in a community hospital.

"The people who know E best do not favor further treatment. They think that she has had enough. They believe she should be allowed a dignified death," he ruled.

The case began after her council wrote an urgent application to the court. The council said that it was concerned that her position must be investigated and protected. The judge said that her death was imminent as she was refusing to eat any solid food and was living only on liquid.

"She was being looked after in a community hospital under a palliative care regime whose purpose was to allow her to die in comfort," he said.

E had become anorexic at the age of 11 and was using alcohol during her adult life to escape. The judge said that even as she is unwell, she is not incurable. He said it is in her interests that she be fed, even if it means the use of force.