THE Liberal Democrats will today pledge to "reinvigorate the founding principles of the NHS" by ending unfair charges for personal care, prescriptions and check-ups.

The party continued campaigning after leader Charles Kennedy and his wife Sarah showed off their new baby boy yesterday, declaring him their "pride and joy".

The Lib Dems will underline their commitment to scrapping charges for personal care for the elderly at a cost of £1.6bn in 2006/7, funded from their proposed new top rate of income tax of 50p in the pound for all earnings over £100,000.

Lib Dems will also vow to provide free eye and dental checks at an estimated cost of £205m in 2006/7.

Unveiling the Lib Dems' NHS package today was deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell, standing in for Charles Kennedy after the birth of his son.