BOLTON West MP Ruth Kelly is calling for Government action on age discrimination at work.

She has written to Employment Minister Andrew Smith urging him to investigate and legislate to protect older workers.

She said today: "I have been approached by a number of constituents who feel that they are being placed under undue pressure to take early retirement when they feel they have many years' work left in them."

She said age discrimination in the workplace could be just as common as sex and race discrimination, which were the subject of legislation to protect workers.

She went on: "It is not only people in work who are affected, but also those applying for jobs.

"Most employers will look upon a person's application purely on merit, however, I am sure there are people who have lost out because they are on the wrong side of 50.

"The Government's New Deal programme will provide major benefits for the young and long-term unemployed - I want to ensure that older workers are not neglected."

Ms Kelly said she understood the Government was currently in consultation with organisations such as Age Concern and the Employers' Forum on Age.

There would also be a campaign to promote the benefits of a diverse age workforce to employers and employees.

"I want to make sure that concrete measures come out of these discussions which will help bring an end to the practice of age discrimination," she said.

Anybody who feels they have suffered age discrimination is being asked to write to Ruth Kelly at 60 St Georges Road, Bolton BL1 2DD.

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