LIFE OR DEATH! TRAGIC REALITY OF SCRAPPING WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS

FEARFUL pensioners say they will have to choose between heating and eating to pay the bills after Rachel Reeves' Winter Fuel Payment cut.

- Christian Calgie

Following the launch of this newspaper's Save Winter Fuel Payments crusade, swathes of older people have shared their heartbreaking stories of how losing the essential lifeline will impact them later this year.

Readers detailed the terrible choice they will face this Christmas between keeping themselves warm or putting food on the table, as millions are forced to find up to £300 in savings to make up for the labour government's changes.

Exasperated Lynne, 70, from Cumbria, explained how she and her partner's £13,000 pension means they will have to work extra hours despite ill health - because of the Chancellor's decision to withdraw Winter Fuel Payments.

She explained: "My husband has bladder cancer and I have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and scoliosis.

"We cannot afford to stop working so the heating allowance - or lack of it would mean possible hospital admissions for both of us if we get too cold or hungry.

"All we can hope for is to die quickly this winter. I hope Rachel Reeves is proud of herself." Lynne's anger was matched by fellow pensioner Peter Sanford, who warned: "Many pensioners will die from hypothermia this winter." Ray Henderson, 71, said many older people will "just have to get another blanket, grin and bear it".

He added: "I do hope we don't have a bad winter or there will be a lot of people getting very ill, or worse may die, because of what Labour have done.

"They have upset the majority of people who put them in power, the older generation, and we won't forget!"