THIRTY protestors travelled to London on International Women's Day to protest against changes to state pension age for women.

The Solent Women Against State Pension Inequality branch are part of a national campaign lobbying the government to provide compensation for failure to notify them of the changes to their pension age.

Organiser Shelagh Simmons said: "We were delighted with the turnout at today's WASPI demonstration in London. "Campaigners from all around the country were there to make their voices heard and demand fair treatment for 1950s women so cruelly denied their state pension. "Among the MPs who came out to support us was Southampton Test's Alan Whitehead. We greatly appreciate his ongoing support in our fight for justice. The demonstration today served to strengthen our resolve and was an important expression of national solidarity on International Women's Day."

Campaigner Maggie Longley said the day was about raising awareness of the campaign, which has already raised over £100,000, which it may use to sue the government. She said: "Unless people know about it they aren't going to know we need help." The changes affect 11,000 people in Southampton alone and more than 150,000 in Hampshire - with many women left in financial hardship due to lack of notice about the changes.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo some women still believe they will get their state pension at the age of 60, and not at 65. The age for both men and women has now risen to 66 by 2020.