VETERAN East Lancashire MP Peter Pike has welcomed government plans to reward people for working on when they reach 70.

The 66-year-old even admitted he would have been tempted to have taken advantage of the idea, had it been available when he turned 65 and got his pension book last year.

Hyndburn Labour MP Greg Pope has also backed the move but Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans has dismissed it as the government trying to make up for the current pensions crisis it has created.

The move, due to be introduced in a year's time after the details are worked out, is aimed at providing a more flexible approach to retirement as people live longer.

Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith said it would give ordinary working people the opportunity of the same sort of lump sum on retirement that wealthier employees already took for granted for the first time.

Mr Pike, who is to stand down at the next General Election, said: "I think this is a good idea. There are lots of people who want to work on past 65 in East Lancashire. They don't because the current proposal of a toppedup pension when they retire is rubbish.

Mr Pope said: "As people live longer, allowing ordinary working pensions the chance to build up a lump sum to do something special such as take a really good holiday or move to a new home."

But Shadow Cabinet member Mr Evans said: "This is simply a pathetic attempt to try to make up for the pensions crisis this government has created."