TOWN Hall chiefs have moved to quash a "mean and uncaring" housing benefits rule which penalises widows receiving war pensions.

Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth has mooted plans to end the practice of reducing the housing benefit paid to those receiving support after losing husbands or wives involved in military service.

Bolton Council is one of only a handful of local authorities across the country who still take war pensions into account when totting up the amount of benefit widows and widowers are eligible for.

Bernard McCartin, of the Royal British Legion, welcomed the moves and described the current system as "disgraceful".

He said: "They give it out with one hand and take it away with the other.

"We are talking about mainly elderly people whose partners have made a huge sacrifice for their country."

The Liberal Democrat Horwich town councillor added: "They should stop this mean and uncaring practice now."

Cllr John Walsh, of the Conservative group, backed his calls.

He said: "My view has always been that these people's husbands and wives have performed heroic duties for their country and we have a moral duty to look after them."

Bolton is currently the only council in Greater Manchester not to disregard war pensions in working out widows pensions.

War widows receive around £144-a-week with an additional wage allowance paid to those over 65-years-old. There are currently 170 war widows living in the borough and it is estimated that the rule change would affect around 138 of them.

The executive committee of the council is to consider a report commissioned by Labour leader, Cllr Howarth, calling for views on a suggestion to change the rule from April this year.

If passed, it would cost the council around £100,000-a-year.

Cllr Howarth said: "We are one of the few authorities who do not give this advantage to war widows and I think there is every chance the Labour group will support a change."

But Cllr David Wilkinson, of the Liberal Democrats, warned: "Everyone would like to give this kind of support to war widows but savings will have to found elsewhere."