A GROUP of Ilkley women took part in a national day of action on Friday to highlight a campaign against the discrimination of women born in the 1950s onwards.

The women are all members of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) who feel betrayed by the Government who are raising the state pension age for women to 66, as it is for men.

Ilkley WASPI campaigner Heather Duke said: "Friday was a national day of protest around the country to raise awareness of this great injustice.

"Thousands of women were not notified of the change as a result of the 1995 State Pension act. Then, in 2011 the coalition government decided to accelerate the the changes in the 2011 State Pension without notifying the cohort of 1950's women who this affects.

"I thought I would receive my pension at the age of 62/63. I found out purely by chance that I will in actual fact be 65 years, three months and 22 days old when I receive my State Pension. I had not been notified of the second change.

"This means thousands of women born in the 1950s still thought the they would receive their pension at 60 and were not notified of the two changes to their state pension age.

"Many women still think they will still get their pension at 60. WASPI is fighting to achieve fair transitional pension arrangements for these women. Many are facing serious financial hard ship and ill health.

"As a local group we have met with our MPs, leafleted in Ilkley and Skipton, taken part in the national WASPI choir and in July we demonstrated in London as part of a mass demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament."

Action took place across the country on Friday, supported by unions, MPs and councillors.

GMB Northern Regional Secretary Billy Coates said: "Women against state pension inequality (WASPI) is one of the most worthwhile groups and causes in the UK. It is an absolute scandal what this Government has done to millions of women who now have to work longer to avoid pensioner poverty when they should be entitled to support from the country.

"This group of women have sacrificed a lot for their families, their communities and the country. The country or the Government of the day should neither ignore them or discriminate against them".