A hospital breached a 71-year-old Sikh stroke victim’s religious beliefs by removing his beard without family consent.

Mr Singh, whose family don’t want him to be named for safety reasons, was left unable to speak after suffering a stroke.

The man from Ealing, West London was admitted to Hillingdon Hospital where they cut his beard without obtaining his permission or seeking the consent of his family.

In the Sikh religion, a beard signifies their commitment to the religion. The Rehat Maryada explicitly forbids cutting or shaving any body hair for initiated Sikhs.