MP Evan Harris presented a petition backed by more than 30,000 people calling for better pensions.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon delivered the petition, with many signatures from Oxfordshire, to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown at 11 Downing Street.

The handover took place two days before Mr Brown makes his pre-Budget statement in which he is expected to announce next year's pension increase.

Dr Harris said: "Many local pensioners have told me how they have been insulted by Labour's 75p rise in pensions this year."

He added: "They are not going to be impressed with another inflation-linked increase next year 2.25 would not even buy a book of first-class stamps."

Today, a delegation of pensioners from Oxfordshire joined the annual Pensioners' Convention at Centre Hall, Westminster. Later, they were due to take part in a lobby of Parliament to demand higher pensions.

Up to 2,000 pensioners are expected to brave the rail chaos to travel to London for the rally.