An 83-year-old man survived an attempt by his partner to kill him with rat poison, and the woman has now been charged with attempted murder.

The 79-year-old Rimini woman, who is twice-widowed, admitted to giving small doses of rat poison to her partner, with whom she has lived for the past 30 years.

Italian media report that she admitted doing so for money.

The husband survived the attempt and is now recovering in hospital Italian media report.

The woman admitted to the crime after the police intercepted telephone conversations and medical examinations were carried out on the husband.