Health insurer BUPA is to stop selling long-term care insurance due to lack of demand.

The company joins PP Lifetime, Scottish Widows and Norwich Union in withdrawing from the market, leaving Skandia as the only provider, said a report.

Long-term care insurance, also known as a pre-funded care plan, is used to meet the cost of nursing care. Immediate needs annuities bought after the need for long-term care is discovered, are still available.