By Jane Grove BBC News Online

He had joined the company in 1969 and worked his way up from a clerk to become a junior manager.

Getting a new job in a similar position would be simple, assumed the now-67-year-old from Blundellsands, Liverpool.

"My initial reaction was that I would easily get another job because of my experience, but it took me 18 months to find a full-time job, and even then, the conditions weren't very good," he told BBC News Online.

I did get the feeling that people were ruling me out because of my age Alan Stanley, Liverpool

Mr Stanley took on casual work as a barman and door-to-door salesman to help pay the mortgage.

He also wrote more than 200 letters to companies in an attempt to get "a proper job".

Few of the letters resulted in interviews, but with the interviews he got, Mr Stanley realised it would be an uphill struggle to get full-time employment.

"I did get the feeling that people were ruling me out because of my age," said

"Some of the interviewers were actually quite open about it and said they were looking for a younger person.

"Also, other factors come into play. The longer you are out of work, the more they think you are not looking for it.

"It actually turned out that the first proper job I got after I was made redundant was done as a telephone interview and I actually didn't tell them my age."

'Cost-Cutting'

Mr Stanley said he was made redundant because of "cost-cutting" at his company, but he felt this was not the whole story.

"They tell you it's not you they are making redundant but the job - that's the official line - but it does cross your mind that if they have a directive to cut costs then they think 'let's keep all the 20-year-olds and get rid of the over 40s'.

"Everyone thinks that there is a hidden agenda."

Employment figures By 2006, 45-59-year-olds will form the largest group in the labour force 68% of employers seeking skilled staff are experiencing recruitment difficulties 90% of people aged 50+ receive no training from their employer At least 40% of people who retire early feel that they were forced to against their will

Eventually Mr Stanley managed to get a job with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Ironically, it appeared age worked in his favour this time.

"They wanted to employ three council bailiffs, one young, one middle-aged and one mature - so one of the reasons I got the job was because of my maturity!"

Mr Stanley, who is now employed by an agency recovering debt for a housing association, said although he had benefited in this case, he felt age should not be a factor in deciding whether someone is right for the job.

Flexibility call

"Age shouldn't come into it. All that should matter is that you are the person who fits the profile of what they want for the job."

He said that although he fully backed new moves to outlaw age discrimination, he disagreed with a clause to the plan which allows companies to get rid of employees aged over 70.

Some people need to keep working, not just because it keeps their mind active, but because of financial reasons Alan Stanley

"If the person is fit and well and is of sound mind and body and can do the job, then they should continue in it," he said.

"There should not be a retirement age. It should be flexible so people could scale down if they want to and do work for say, two or three days a week, instead.

"Some people need to keep working, not just because it keeps their mind active, but because of financial reasons.

"Lots of people can't afford to retire, and lots of people wouldn't know what to do if they did retire. They would just sit around for eight hours a day.