PLANS to extend free personal care to under-65s with degenerative conditions have been backed by a Holyrood committee.

MSPs on the Health Committee unanimously supported the change, known as Frank’s Law, due to come into force from April next year.

It is expected to be rubber-stamped by the Scottish Parliament’s full chamber later this month.

It follows a campaign by Amanda Kopel, the wife of former Dundee United player Frank Kopel, who died in 2014. He was diagnosed with early onset dementia aged 59 and faced bills of £1200 a month for care until he died aged 65, just weeks after he qualified for free personal care.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said the regulations were being considered “significantly ahead” of the date they come into force to enable local authorities to plan for changes to their processes.