AS a result of George Osborne’sBudget, the winter fuel allowance will be reduced by £100 for people over 80 and for those over 60, it will be cut by £50.

This is a cold-hearted disregard for the older people in our society.

They are being punished harshly in the Government’s search for cuts.

Millions already living in fuel poverty and facing increasing energy prices will have to find extra money to pay their heating bills to retain a resemblance of comfort.

Many fearful of cost will have no alternative but to turn the heating down.

Britain is in the scandalous position of being rated among the highest in Europe for death among older people because of their lesser resilience to the cold.

This is a source of national shame. Help for the vulnerable should be provided, not taken away.

That the Chancellor didn’t announce the reduction in allowances in his Budget speech but allowed the facts to be buried in Budget papers indicates the Government isn’t listening or want others to listen to the needs of the older generation.

Edward Davies Stourbridge