A SEMINAR looking at pensioner poverty and care issues is taking place today in the council chamber at Blackburn Town Hall

Organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council, the guest speaker will be Rodney Bickerstaff, president of the National Pensioners' Convention.

The seminar, to be chaired by Coun Don Rishton, will include workshops on a variety of pensioner and care-related issues with one, in particular, focusing on issues affecting older women.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for citizens and consumer rights, said: "This seminar is part of a broad strategy undertaken by the council to raise awareness of issues affecting pensioners and to bring about local improvements.

"The pensions issue is very high on people's and the government's agenda, with many people not aware of their full rights and entitlements.

"The government itself is looking at the problem of an ageing population, and the concerns facing many pensioners associated with living on reduced incomes.

"The late Barbara Castle campaigned right to the end to improve pensioners' rights and I hope that by using seminars like this to raise awareness of older people issues, alongside other work, we are doing what we can to continue her legacy."

Coun Rishton said: "There will be a number of useful workshops taking place and the object of the seminar is to try and help bring further improvements to the lives of pensioners in the borough."