Worcester news readers have reacted to MP Tom Collins' support of highly debated plans to cut winter fuel payments for over 10 million non-credit pensioners.

Data from Worcester News reveals that these changes, set to kick in this autumn, will lead to almost 90 per cent of Worcester’s pensioners being left significantly out of pocket in an attempt to fill a £22 billion hole in public funds.

According to the recent analysis, 17,312 pensioners in Worcester received a Winter Fuel Payment last year, whereas only 1,836 benefited from pension credit.

Consequently, the majority of Worcester's ageing population may find themselves between £100 and £300 poorer.

Residents had a lot to say about this contentious development.

Local resident Paul Chadwick pulled no punches, saying: "Notice how MPs can still claim money for their energy bill doesn't affect them, does it?"

He continued to suggest that reforming MP wages, expenses, and second home privileges could save billions.

Similarly, Klaire Watts argued that tougher measures should not be targeted at the elderly who suffer most in cold weather.

She said: "Yeahh let's get tough on pensioners who really suffer from the cold and damp in winter, absolutely disgraceful and our PM will have blood on his hands when pensioners start freezing to death because of his bad decisions."

Daisy Day chimed in with her thoughts on MPs' privileges, saying: "Not at all necessary when MPs get over £3000 a year fuel allowance."

Heather Andrews raised the plight of those surviving on a basic state pension, saying: "We lose our fuel allowance & can claim nothing, so are worse off than those who can claim for everything."

John Sanders criticised the current government, attributing the harsh decisions to previous financial mismanagement.

He said: "The Tories have emptied the bank to give their mates so these decisions have to be made."

These sentiments were echoed by Alan Appleford, who felt that pensioners would be better off if MPs curbed their claim on unnecessary expenses: "If all the people in Parliament stopped claiming all there expenses on silly items and gave it to us pensioners there won't need any cutbacks on us".