ISLAMABAD: British families should follow the example of Asian and African immigrants and take greater responsibility for their elderly relations instead of 'forcing' them into care homes, a minister has said.

Too many elderly people were being 'neglected' by their families and endure a 'much less happy ending' to their lives than they should, Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat Justice Minister told The Telegraph, a leading newspaper.

He said that people in Britain had lost a sense of 'obligation' to care for loved ones and should look to 'immigrant cultures' which understand the importance of 'sacrifices' and a responsibility to 'look after your family to the end.'

Last year a study suggested that 800,000 elderly people in England were chronically lonely, while 5 million have only the television as their main form of company.

There are also growing concerns that Britain is facing a care crisis as the number of people aged over 75 is forecast to rise from 4.2 million to more than 6.3 million within the next 20 years.

Hughes said Britain should look to the 'best example' of Asian and African families who have migrated to Britain, where the elderly are often at the centre of family life and live with their children.