PENSIONERS from the North-East are joining a nationwide action day and protest in London on November 6.

The event has been organised by the National Pensioners Convention(NPC) and aims to highlight the wide range of issues, which affect the care of older people.

Mike Findley, secretary of the Cleveland Pensioners Convention Forum, said: "Older people and their families are increasingly concerned about the quality and cost of health care. A place in a residential home can cost as much as £27,000 a year, and that is money that people simply cannot afford.

"Many pensioners in Cleveland are concerned that the care of older people is in chaos. Homes are closing down because they say that local authorities are not paying enough towards the cost of care, while the councils argue that they just don't have the resources to cover the fees."

The local campaign will end with the Cleveland Pensioners Convention Forum's first anniversary rally on Thursday, November 8, at Redcar Bowl from 2pm until 4pm, where the main speakers will be agony aunt Claire Rayner, Joe Harris, General Secretary of the NPC, and Tony Young, president of the TUC.

BBC Radio Cleveland presenter Alan Wright, who is honarary chairman of the forum, will be presenting his show from the venue before the rally