Employers in Swindon are being called to join the fight to eradicate ageism at work for Age Positive Week, a national awareness initiative.

Run by the Department of Works and Pensions, the week aims to challenge age stereotypes at work and promote positive examples of employers and employees defying ageism.

Employment statistics highlighted by the campaign reveal that Swindon has one of the best employment rates for older workers aged between 50 and 69.

The figures show that compared to an older population of 39,000 in Swindon, 67 per cent of these people are in employment.

This places Swindon seventh in a league table of 150 towns, cities and counties in England.

Hartlepool employs the lowest proportion of older workers with an employment rate of 32 per cent.

James Plaskitt, department minister, said: "Ageism is the most widespread form of discrimination experienced at work.

"We have to make sure that employment opportunities are open to all young and old.

"We hope to encourage employers to make employment decisions based on skills and abilities, not on age."

Age Positive will be recognising individuals who defy age stereotypes and rewarding age aware employers at a national awards ceremony today.

Awards will be made to employers and individual entrants from the south west with an outstanding award for one employer and individual from all the entries across Great Britain presented on the night.

Other activities for the week include an opportunity for employers and members of the public to send questions to the Minister for Pensions Reform on age issues.

Tomorrow the minister will be responding live to as many questions as possible via the Age Positive website www.agepositive.gov.uk The Government will be introducing new legislation in October making age discrimination in the workplace unlawful.

For further details, visit www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/age.htm