IN replay to Nick Holt's remarks regarding pensioners (Letters, February 8), I am a pensioner and, luckily, I have a works pension (into which I paid and for which I pay tax) as well as my old age pension.

As a result, I can manage quite well, but I would hate to try to manage on the old age pension alone.

I have worked all my life while also bringing up a family - so that I could acquire a decent standard of living in my retirement and I do not expect my country to owe me a living, as Mr Holt suggests.

But neither do I expect people who have not bothered to try to get a job, or those who have come into this country solely to live off the state, to receive more money in benefits than our pensioners.

I can only assume that if Mr Holt is so heavily taxed, he must be earning a good wage and should not begrudge our pensioners what little they get in assistance for their winter fuel or the rise of the princely sum of 75p.

A FOY (Mrs), Haslingden Road, Guide, Blackburn.

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