THE Leigh constituency and surrounding areas' branch of the national Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign now has a Twitter handle @waspilpg.

Women born in the 1950s receive free help from training provider Joining Communities every Wednesday, learning how to become more technology savvy as they bid to convince the Government to make 'fair transitional arrangements' now that they have to wait up to six more years to receive their state pension.

The free training workshops are held at Joining Communities’ base at Lilford House on St Helens Road in Leigh from 1pm to 3pm and are open to everyone.

The next session just for WASPI women is on Friday, from 10am to noon.

Anyone affected by the Government fast-tracking plans to increase the state pension age (SPA) for women from 60 to 66 are invited to go along for help in completing a complaint letter to the Department for Work and Pensions, join the WASPI group or just get further information on the campaign.

Most people were completely unaware of the Government’s move – which could cost women born on or after April 6, 1951, thousands of pounds – as it received little publicity.

A DWP spokesperson said: “The decision to equalise the state pension age between men and women was made more than 20 years ago and achieves a long overdue move towards gender equality.

"There are no plans to change the transitional arrangements already in place.

“Women retiring today can still expect to receive the state pension for 24.5 years on average, several years longer than men.”