PENSIONERS have taken to the streets in Oxford to protest the ending of free television licences for over 75s.

The current benefit is scheduled to stop tomorrow and up to 3.7 million pensioners will now have to pay up to £157.50 to watch the BBC on TV and on iPlayer, according to the National Pensioners Convention (NPC).

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Today's gathering in Bonn Square from midday was part of protests held by NPC members across the country.

Oxford Mail:

John Paine, secretary of Oxfordshire NPC Group said: “Older people feel angry that the Prime Minister – who promised last November that it was ‘crucial’ to save the free licence for all over 75s – has failed to keep his promise.”

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He said the free licence was a ‘vital universal benefit’ and decisions on it should never have been passed to the BBC.