A GROUP of campaigners for the elderly are meeting Swindon's two MPs to discuss pension reforms.

The Age Concern group will be meeting Anne Snelgrove and Michael Wills for a discussion about pensions on June 9.

It follows an Age Concern public meeting attended by 60 people and a "citizens' jury" event with 18, all of whom looked in detail at the Pension Commission proposals for pension reform.

Now, following publication of the government's White Paper last week, which sets out plans for pension changes over the next 40 years, this special discussion will reinforce local views.

The changes announced, which follow Lord Turner's report, include raising the age of retirement to 68 by 2044 and also linking pensions to levels in earnings rather than inflation.

But the changes will not affect anyone over the age of 47, which has raised concern over the current benefits crisis in the UK. That's why the meeting will focus particularly on improving the position of today's pensioners.

Jo Osorio, director of Age Concern Swindon, said: "Today's pensioners will have to wait a long time to see any gains from this new settlement.

"Unless the Government intervenes quickly, the real value of the basic state pension will fall to a dismal £72 by 2012."