MANY older people in Worcester are scraping by on the most basic of incomes, according to a report.

Thirty per cent of the city's over 65s live on means-tested benefits, giving them a guaranteed minimum income of £102 per week.

The proportion of city pensioners on this income is similar to that in Wyre Forest, but higher than the proportion in Wychavon (23.5), Malvern Hills (19.4) and Herefordshire (22.9).

The figures appear in a study into pensioner poverty in 376 council wards in England and Wales, which will help the future planning of services for the elderly.

Neglected

The Help the Aged Income Index for older people in England and Wales 2003 has been produced to help pinpoint areas of need among people over the age of 60.

"Older people's needs have often been neglected," said Paul Cann, director of policy for Help the Aged.

"They are all too easily excluded and overlooked when it comes to the provision of services.

"This new research underlines this and throws up surprising facts about where older people are living on the most basic of incomes as a hidden population, scraping by, out of sight."

Many of the most disadvantaged wards are predictably in the metropolitan areas of London, Merseyside, Manchester, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

But the most disadvantaged area is Gamesley, on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District, where more than 97 per cent of those aged over 75 live on income related benefits.

Seven West Midlands wards, chiefly in parts of Coventry and Birmingham, are among the top 30 most disadvantaged, while Worcester is placed 134th.

Wyre Forest is at 135, Wychavon at 271, Herefordshire at 288 and Malvern Hills at 333.

"Those who work with older people on local, regional and national levels should use this research, combined with proper consultation, to ensure that the services and support they provide are properly targeted," said Mr Cann.

The information will be used by Help the Aged and by the charity's partners, like British Gas, to help older and poorer customers.