CRITICAL BIGGS 'MAY NOT LAST THE WEEK' Train robber, 79, has pneumonia.

Byline: LAURA ARMSTRONG

GREAT Train Robber Ronnie Biggs was fighting for life in hospital last night after a severe bout of pneumonia.

Son Michael said the 79-year-old - refused parole by Justice Secretary Jack Straw earlier this month - may not last the week.

He added: "My father has been taken to hospital with a severe case of pneumonia.

"According to the doctors, it is the worst he has ever been. They said that there's not much hope at the moment.

"He is supposed to have a parole appeal hearing on Friday. That's if he makes it until then. It's not looking good." Michael, speaking outside the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, fought back tears as he revealed the family had made a new appeal to Mr Straw to release his father.

He added: "We have put an application in this afternoon. Hopefully, Mr Jack Straw will release my father on compassionate grounds. We have got to be hopeful now.

"Doctors were talking about not resuscitating my father if his heart stops.

"His life is in the hands of God and his destiny is, unfortunately, in the hands of Mr Straw."

Biggs, who has had several strokes, can no longer eat or talk and communicates with an alphabet board, was rushed to hospital on Thursday.

Mr Straw refused Biggs's parole application, saying he was "wholly unrepentant" about his crime of 46 years ago.

The Justice Secretary's decision was criticised by Biggs' family, who claimed he was being kept as a "political prisoner".

Biggs was part of a 15-strong gang that robbed a mail train in Ledburn, Bucks, in August 1963.

They stole pounds 2.6million in used banknotes in the biggest ever raid on a British train.

Biggs was jailed for 30 years but escaped from Wandsworth Prison after 15 months.

He was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001.

CAPTION(S):

TEARFUL Michael and, right, Biggs' mugshot AILING Ronnie Biggs in hospital bed