A couple who have been married for almost 50 years say they plan to die in each other's arms inside a controversial 'double suicide pod'.

Retired RAF engineer Peter Scott, 86, and his beloved wife Christine Scott, are signing up to become the first Britons to use the double Sarco machine.

Due to be launched next year, the machine is a chamber that allows two people to end their lives side by side by gradually replacing the oxygen inside with nitrogen.

Invented by Australian-born scientist Philip Nitschke, the euthanasia device is expected to be introduced in Switzerland soon - where Mr and Mrs Scott plan to travel on their final trip together.

Mrs Scott, an 80-year-old retired nurse, was recently diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia and her husband of 46 years said the idea of watching her "slow degradation" was horrific.

The couple live together in the village of Mellis, close to the Norfolk-Suffolk border, and are grandparents of six.

Mr Scott told the Mail on Sunday: "We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are in old age and it does not do nice things to you.

"The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris's mental abilities in parallel to my own physical decline is horrific to me.

"Obviously I would care for her to the point I could not, but she has nursed enough people with dementia during her career to be adamant she wants to remain in control of herself and her life.

"What we want is the right to choose - I find it deeply depressing we can't do that here in the UK."

Mrs Scott said: "It's a lovely life but I have this diagnosis and that's crystallised our thinking.

"At the point I thought of losing myself, I'd say 'This is it Peter, I don't want to go any further'."

Her devoted husband added: "I've said to her 'You make the decision and I'll be with you. Death holds no problem for me whatsoever.

"I'd just give her a big hug and say: 'Hope to see you later'."