ANGRY pensioners gathered in Bolton town centre to demand free health care and television licences.

Protesters from across the country joined elderly residents yesterday in the demonstration.

The protest was held in Victoria Square as members of the National Pensioners Convention gathered to lobby the Government in Westminster. The Bolton protesters waved placards calling for free television licences, free health care and an end to age discrimination within the health service.

The demonstration was organised by members of the Barrow and Furness Pensioner's Association supported by the Unemployed Action Group (UAG) in Bolton.

More than 300 local people supported their campaign by signing a petition.

Secretary Margie Arts, aged 59, said: "We had a shopping trip planned to Bolton for our pensioners group so we thought we would combine the two. The government needs to sit up and take notice." Vice chairman Maurice Kerr, aged 78, said: "I fought for my country and I do not expect to be doing this at my time of life. It is a sorry state of affairs when you have this sort of thing to raise attention."

And Farnworth ward Cllr Noel Spencer said: " We are happy to support this campaign. It is a very worthwhile issue."

At present only the over 75s are entitled to a free TV Licence. The UAG have long campaigned for a better standard of living for all who live on benefit, and say they are appalled at what they see as blatant discrimination by the government.

Denise Lonsdale, Secretary of the UAG in Bolton, said: "We think it's grossly unfair to limit the free TV licence to a minority of retired people - less than two million over 75 - while the majority of elderly and retired, already struggling on a meagre pension, have to pay the full cost of a licence."