'Rest and recovery' prescribed for Prescott as he goes home from hospital

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The Deputy Prime Minister, 69, will now stay at his grace-and-favour apartment in Admiralty House, near Trafalgar Square, for "rest and recovery".

A spokesman said that Mr Prescott's health would continue to be monitored by hospital staff.

He was unable to say if he would be back at work in time for June 27, the day that Tony Blair stands down as Prime Minister - when Mr Prescott is also to quit office.

In a statement, Mr Prescott said: "I would like to personally thank all the doctors, nurses and support staff for their understanding, professional help and assistance. We should all be very proud of our magnificent NHS."

Mr Prescott was taken ill on a train from his Hull constituency to London, shortly after returning from a visit to Jamaica and Barbados.

The elderly are particularly susceptible to pneumonia, a potentially fatal inflammation of the lungs that affects about 1 in 100 people in the UK each year, and part of Mr Prescott's hospital stay was spent on a critical care ward.

But the one-time Merchant Navy steward, a Type 2 diabetes sufferer, recovered quickly and was soon sitting up in bed "laughing and joking" with nurses.

He has been dogged by ill health in recent times, and spent most of Christmas Day in hospital after a kidney stone left him doubled up in agony.