TEACHERS' unions leaders campaigning against Government plans to reduce their pension rights will today (May 14) lobby Bury North MP David Chaytor.

They will gather outside the MP's offices in the town centre late this afternoon to highlight their concerns.

Teachers say that many staff, particularly those under the age of 50, are faced with their existing pension entitlements being cut back. The planned changes will hit more than 1.2 million public sector employees if they go ahead.

Local National Union of Teachers secretary Helen Andrews said: "There is real anger among public sector employees that the Government is proposing to take away existing entitlements and worsen future pension benefits.

"They entered and remained in public services on the basis of pension promises which they believed were secure and would be honoured by Government."

She added: "Many, with 20 or 30 years service, face the prospect of their future pension benefits being cut back. Many more are faced with half or more of their existing pension entitlement being cut back and worsened.

"While the option to retire at 60 may remain, the planned changes for teachers will involve such swingeing reductions in pension benefits that very few could contemplate that option. Similar details are not yet available for other schemes, but it is highly unlikely that they will be very different."