ANEW report has revealed that nearly a quarter of people in their early 50s are afraid of falling on hard times and being forced out of their homes.

The findings by Age UK show that mortgage or rent payments were a real concern for many heading towards retirement.

Their worries included being more likely to be made redundant than their younger colleagues, falling savings rates and private pensions at an all-time low.

Many also face paying off credit card debts from when times were good.

The report makes concerning reading and its findings are something which East Lancashire campaigners say rings true in our area.

Pensions are just not what they once were thanks to the closure of final salary schemes, while average wages have fallen with the closure of major manufacturers.

Those who have tried to be canny and put something away to help them through the hard times have seen their savings struggle to keep pace with inflation.

And the picture is even less rosy for those who took out easy credit to pay for things like cars and holidays.

More support must be given to those who do find themselves falling on hard times, especially in accessing all the benefits they are eligible for. And let us hope the recent green shoots seen in the economy are the start of the country heading out of this current financial mess.