OAPS, CHECK YOUR FINANCES FEATURE: WHILE Frank Avenell, secretary of the Swindon Fairness for Pensioners group, welcomes extra cash for older people, he stresses that it should not be means-tested.

He said: "A lot of people resent this. The Government wants to know about every penny that you have tucked away in the bank.

"Many older people, myself included, have a couple of thousand pounds stashed away in the account in case they need to go into a nursing home at a later stage.

"Why should be have to divulge that? It is private information. We are being penalised for saving and that is wrong."