A leading charity has condemned the "postcode lottery" over care for older people after it revealed two thirds of councils rated excellent were not providing care in the home to those in need.

Age Concern and Help the Aged said almost two thirds of councils rated as providing excellent care at home do not provide the services to many older people who cannot carry out basic tasks, such as getting up, using the toilet and washing.

Some 35 out of 56 councils rated excellent by the Commission for Social Care Inspection only provide care for people with 'critical or substantial' needs, the charity's analysis revealed.

Despite their needs being classed as low or moderate, many of these older people are disabled or housebound, campaigners said.

The charity said councils were denying many older people the help they needed to live dignified and independent lives by restricting home care to those who meet the highest criteria.

Age Concern and Help the Aged are calling for a forthcoming Green Paper on social care reform from the Government to reverse creeping eligibility restrictions and end the postcode lottery of service provision by guaranteeing services for everyone with critical, substantial and moderate needs.

It estimates an extra £1-2 billion a year would have to be spent to improve the care system and deliver reforms to protect the dignity and independence of all older people.

The findings were released as hundreds of older people arrived in Westminster to demand action from their MPs ahead of the publication of the long-promised Green Paper, which will set out preliminary proposals for social care.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Age Concern and Help the Aged, said: "This is just one example of how the crumbling care system is failing our older people.

"The reality is that even the 'best' local councils are leaving many older people to struggle without the care they need, slowly stripping away their dignity and independence.

"The call for action from older campaigners and their families is loud, clear and unified. It's time for action, not endless consultation and discussion.

"Politicians cannot duck the care crisis any longer - any political party that fails to spell out how they would reform the care system is betraying current and future generations of older people."