THERE are over 11 million pensioners living in Britain and, according to Age Concern, one in five are living on the breadline.

This means that a staggering 2,200,000 elderly people are struggling to survive in Britain under this New Labour Government.

Paul Burstow, Lib/Dem MP and Chairman of the cross party group on the elderly, says: "This paints a shocking picture of 21st century Britain. Giving people a decent pension would go a long way to helping them overcome their problems."

The problems Paul talks about are those of poverty and loneliness.

More than 3.5 million elderly people live alone.

Many do not have regular visitors. Some go for days without speaking to another human being.

One in four, that is 2,750,000, do not have a best friend.

Many elderly folk are imprisoned in their homes because of infirmity, or shortage of money, or both.

And because elderly people spend so much time at home, their autumn and winter fuel bills can more than double those of a working family.

It is a terrible indictment on our society, and especially on our politicians, that our elderly are treated this way.

While politicians procrastinate, pensioners die, often cold and alone. Thousands suffer illness brought on by depression, brought on by loneliness.

Means testing is perhaps the single biggest setback to old folk getting what they are entitled to.

Confusing and often humiliating form-filling discourages many elderly people from applying for benefits that should be theirs.

This penny-pinching has to stop. The elderly must be paid a pension which allows them to live in dignity.

This needs to be done urgently before thousands more die due to political neglect.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton