CHRISTCHURCH has one of the highest proportions of pensioners in the country.

So it’s no surprise that people in the town are probably more concerned than most about yesterday’s interest rate cut which is set to cripple their savings even further.

The Bank of England’s latest interest rate cut to 0.5 per cent, the sixth since October, was met with angry protests in London, a feeling which was echoed in Christchurch.

Kathrine Spiller, 62, from Somerford said: “All those years of saving for security have been worthless. Why is it us that’s getting a raw deal? Even those who couldn’t save very much have had them obliterated.

“I would rather be hungry than give up my car but I can honestly see it getting to that stage.

“I wish I’d just kept all the money under a mattress.”

Jean Drake, 74, from Christ-church said: “Most of the outgoings are in bills, which continue to go up despite the fall in our savings.”

Dorothy Scott, 70, from Christchurch said: “While I’m coping, I know people who were relying on their savings. Why are they being punished for being sensible?”

Graham Spilby, 72, said: “Some of our ISAs are useless now but thankfully we have got good pensions, but I feel for others who rely on the state pension.”

His wife Gillian, also 72, added: “Why is our money going towards bailing out the banks and bonuses? I worked hard all my life and never got a bonus. It’s ridiculous.”

Diane Atkinson, 61, and her husband John, 66, said they are also reining in.

She said: “It makes me so angry. We have lost 30 per cent off our savings, which were supposed to see us through and now they won’t.

“It’s people who are on their own that I feel for.”

Celia Burgess, head of Age Concern in Christchurch said: “Many older people will not admit they are struggling as they feel they really need to trust somebody before disclosing that kind of sensitive information.”

District and county councillor Fred Drane, vice chairman of the Poole and District Pensioners Association, said: “It’s like a kick in the teeth. I don’t begrudge people on benefits, but people tell me they have been saving all their lives and because they have a little bit over the amount the government allows, they can’t get benefits. Then they are being hit again by interest rates.”

“The system has to be changed, no doubt about it. We have to change it to give people a decent pension, and take us out of the loop where some people are looked after and others are not.”