A PRESSURE group is considering a legal challenge to the Government's winter fuel payment rules, claiming they discriminate against men over 60.

John Taylor, York and District organiser for PARITY which campaigns for equal rights for men and women, said the group was considering bringing a test case after a statement on fuel payments for pensioners.

Social Security Minister John Denham said payments to pensioners not on Income Support would be made to men over 65 and women over 60, the state retirement ages.

Mr Taylor, from Norton, said: "PARITY's initial reaction is that this is another example of blatant sex discrimination against men aged 60 to 65, of which there are 1.2 million in the UK and 60 per cent are not working."

He said men in this age group did not receive state pensions, travel concessions or compensation for VAT on fuel as women did at the age of 60.

Mr Taylor said subject to clarification being obtained from the Government "there is a distinct possibility that PARITY will initiate an urgent test case challenging the legality of the Government's winter fuel payments, which are considered as breaching the European

Union Social Security Directive 79/7 of 1978".

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