Pensioners protested against Council Tax increases

Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the payments in his budget on Wednesday.

Pensioners in the region have held protests against the tax rises with some appearing in court for not paying the full increases.

The Devon Pensioners' Action Forum said Mr Brown should have increased pensions rather than the one-off payment.

He throws a bone to the pensioners and expects them to jump with delight Albert Vension, Devon Pensioners' Action Forum

Several South West pensioners have been taken to court for protesting against what they saw as unfair council tax rises.

Elizabeth Winkfield, 83, from Westward Ho! in north Devon, was issued her with a liability order to pay nearly �99 which she withheld following a council tax rise of nearly 18% last year.

Retired social worker Sylvia Hardy, 71, from Exeter, was given a �91 liability order after refusing to pay her full council tax bill because her pension rose by just 1.7%.

She said she was "surprised" by the chancellor's offer.

But she added: "As we are getting fairly near the general election, they realise they have got to offer the pensioners something.

"They know a quarter of the electorate is our age group. And if they totally ignore our concerns about the difficulties we are having in making ends meet, they will be in trouble when the election comes."

Both Elizabeth Winkfield and Sylvia Hardy were supported by the Devon Pensioners' Action Forum.

Elizabeth Winkfield, 83, was ordered to pay �99 which she withheld

Forum Chairman Albert Vension said: "At the last minute he throws a bone to the pensioners and expects them to jump with delight.

"The protests have obviously had an effect because he's had to do something, but what we object to most strongly is this idea of throwing people a crumb from the rich man's table.

"Mr Brown should've announced that he was re-establishing the link with average earnings so people start off with a reasonable pension in the first place.

"The protests will continue until we get what we want."

Peter Tremlett from Age Concern in Devon said: "This really was something to try and keep older people quiet.

"One can't deny that it'll be a help, but what most older really want is an increase in the basic state pension. They don't want these small one-off payments."