A MAN found guilty of murdering North-East backpacker Caroline Clarke was yesterday on hunger strike, eating only razors and staples.

Ivan Milat was jailed for life in Australia, in July 1996, for what was described as one of the most grisly episodes in Australian criminal history.

He was found guilty of murdering seven hitchhikers, between December 1989 and April 1992.

Among the victims were Ms Clarke from Slaley, in Northumberland.

Milat went on hunger strike as part of his campaign for an appeal against sentence.

In a letter to a newspaper, he said: "Well, no eating for me again while this is in force, except for an exception today - I swallowed a quantity of old pieces of razor blades, a heap of staples, some other bits of pieces of iron work.

"This act, like previous past acts, are solely done to highlight the problems I face in attempting to get my appeal going.