Members of final salary pension schemes descended on Whitehall on Saturday to demand a fair deal.

Many of those taking part in the protest have lost part of their pension because of unfair wind-up rules.

Pension scheme wind-ups

Read article by Malcolm McLean, Pensions Advisory Service Read article by Frank Field MP

Workers from United Engineering Forgings and ASW - two companies where workers are affected - presented a petition to 10 Downing Street.

Others have joined the march, including those who are unhappy about the closure of their final salary schemes and Equitable Life members.

On Friday steel union ISTC announced it had appointed barristers to consider whether it could bring a case against the UK Government over wind-up rules.

Rough ride

Bill Riggans, 61, paid into his company scheme for 30 years but may only get half of the pension he expected to get.

Mr Riggans from UEF, one of the march's organisers told BBC News Online; "We were never told there was a risk, we were told it was safe."

The UEF scheme is still in the process of being wound-up - a process which started more than 18 months ago.

Mr Riggans is one of 1,300 people and their families who will be affected.

Wind-up rules

The focus of Saturday's protest are the existing wind-up rules.

Malcolm McLean of the Pensions Advisory Service told BBC News Online: "Urgent action is required in the face of falling consumer confidence in the pension system as a whole."

Under the current rules, after a lifetime's contributions a worker can be left with very little, through no fault of their own.

It is perfectly legal and arises from the legislation put in place after the Maxwell affair.

It basically means pensioners who have retired are protected, but those are still working are not.

The protest aims to promote the cause and urge the government into action.