I WAS very sad to read (Letters, September 9) about the pensioner who had to ask a total stranger for 20p to buy this newspaper because she had no money.

What sort of a country are we living in? And how many more pensioners are keeping silent over the abject poverty they are living in?

The Government should be thoroughly ashamed of itself, when they can throw handfuls of money and give every care possible to people who are just not entitled to it one bit.

I am under the impression that the Government hopes the elderly will somehow just go away, knowing they cannot put up a fight by withdrawing their labour.

But, in fact, the elderly can certainly make themselves heard and no doubt they will come election time.

£100 a week should be the normal basic state pension without means testing for all pensioners who have worked for it.

They won't want small amounts of money being offered to them every so often.

The elderly can't live like this, governments abroad treat their pensioners with respect.

H HAMER, Lowther Place, Blackburn.