Veteran agony aunt Claire Rayner was guest of honour at a North-East pensioners' rally yesterday.

The 70-year-old spoke at the Cleveland Pensioners' For-um's first anniversary rally at Redcar Bowl.

The forum, a local branch of the National Pensioners' Forum, is demanding free long-term health care for pensioners, the re-introduction of pension links to the rise in earnings, and an end to means testing for pensions.

Despite gales and bad weather, 100 people heard speakers urge pensioners to fight for a better deal.

The speakers included Alan Wright, from BBC Radio Cleveland, Councillor Vilma Collins, the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Tony Young, president of the TUC, and Joe Harris, secretary of the National Pensioners' Convention.

Ms Rayner said she was angered by the way the National Health Service was crumbling.

She said: "In 1948, when the legislation came in, I was a cadet nurse and we were all so excited when we heard about this new act. No one would have to worry about it anymore.

"Nurses wouldn't have to go out on the streets banging tins for money. Winston Churchill said it would be from the cradle to the grave and everyone stopped worrying. We thought it was absolutely marvellous.

"It is grossly unjust what has happened to the NHS - it is outrageous.

"We are a sleeping giant and it is high time we woke up. We have got to fight it for our children and our grandchildren."