Tony Nicklinson, who has locked-in sydrome, with wife Jane. Picture: SWNS

A former Kent rugby player paralysed after a stroke has today lost his High Court battle to lawfully end his own life.

Father-of-two Tony Nicklinson, 58, has locked-in syndrome following a catastrophic stroke.

He launched a legal challenge to win the right to end his life when he is ready with medical help.

But his right-to-die bid was thrown out by High Court judges this afternoon.

Mr Nicklinson's family said the judgment was "terribly one-sided" and vowed to appeal.

The former Cranbrook player - who is unable to speak and can only move his head and blink - describes his life as "intolerable".

A High Court judge ruled in March Mr Nicklinson could proceed with his legal action in the courts - despite opposition from the Justice Ministry, which contended it was an issue for Parliament to decide.

Mr Nicklinson's wife Jane said earlier: "The only way to relieve Tony's suffering is to kill him. There's nothing else that can be done for him."

She said her husband did not want to die immediately, but was seeking a way out when the time came.

"It's what he wants and we are behind him. He realises as he gets older things are going to get worse," she said. "Twenty years ago Tony would have died.

"But people are being kept alive with such terrible conditions. Medical practice has become so much better but the law has not progressed."

Gezz Higgins, 79, from Park Lane, Cranbrook, who played alongside Tony, said he lit up the room when he walked in and was a very good rugby player.

Mr Higgins said: "We always called him Royals. His headmaster gave him that nickname as Tony's father was in the Royal Marines and the head was a friend of his dad.

"He used to play second row and a lot of players who came from Maidstone and Gillingham remember him well. I have every sympathy and he should be granted his wish."

Mr Nicklinson has almost no muscle movement after suffering a stroke in 2005.

He has been able to communicate on Twitter using his eyelids.