MY husband and I retired at 65 and 60 respectively after a lifetime of working full-time. The first five years were the best as we both felt young and active, spent more time with our family and had exotic holidays.

But after 70 years your body slows down and although you want to do many things you can't -- or don't. Often, disabilities set in.

We are appalled now that the Government proposes 70 as a suitable retirement age. Suitable for whom?

The Government doesn't want to pay the old age pension for as long, though it is still the lowest in Europe.

As to working until 70, it would all depend on what work you do. Manual labourers wouldn't be able to continue that long.

The Government has little time for old servicemen or women, closes homes for the elderly and has Scrooge-like means testing for those who worked hard to have an extra works pension.

People want a life after retirement and I don't believe that once a Bill was passed for retirement at 70 that it would remain a voluntary exercise.

KATHLEEN BULCOCK (Mrs), Wilkie Avenue, Burnley.