PROTESTERS have gathered outside BBC Radio Lancashire to demonstrate against the scrapping of free TV licences for pensioners over 75.

More than 20 people stood outside the BBC's regional radio station base to protest against the decision which was announced last week.

In 2015 the government announced the British Broadcasting Company would take over the cost of providing free licences for over 75s by 2020.

The BBC revealed this would have cost £745million by 2021/22, which would have been a fifth of the company's budget.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Cllr Glen Harrison, who represents St. Oswalds on Hyndburn Council, joined the protest.

He said: "We are protesting against the cuts to TV licences for the over 75s.

"For some elderly people this is the only company they have.

"The Conservative party have broken their manifesto promise."

Funding free TV licences for all over-75s would have resulted in "unprecedented closures", the BBC said.

The broadcaster said that BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5live, and a number of local radio stations would all have been at risk of closing.

Derek Barton, the vice chairman of the north west region of the Pensioners Association, said: "Weeks ago pensioners were being praised for D-day and two weeks later they take away their TV licences.

"These people fought for us, they built the NHS, they rebuilt this country and now they have to fend for themselves."

The BBC said "fairness" was at the heart of the ruling, which comes into force in June 2020.

It follows a consultation with 190,000 people, of whom 52 per cent were in favour of reforming or abolishing free licences.

The BBC's director-general Lord Tony Hall claims that cuts and an incoming Tory government lie behind the BBC decision to take on the expensive concession.

In a statement on announced last week, BBC chairman Sir David Clementi and Lord Hall said continuing the government's scheme would have had a "severe impact" on services and that the new model "represents the fairest possible outcome".

Sir David has said the broadcaster would work well under a subscription model, but the licence fee is central to the corporation's audience.

Speaking to the House Of Lords communications committee, he said: "The licence fee is at the heart of what we do.

"It makes a direct relationship between us and the public.

"That direct link is very important us.

"The direct link with the licence fee is, I think, very fundamental to us at the BBC."

A government spokesman said: "We're very disappointed with this decision - we've been clear that we want and expect the BBC to continue this concession.

"People across the country value television as a way to stay connected and we want the BBC to look at further ways to support older people.

"Taxpayers want to see the BBC using its substantial licence fee income in an appropriate way to ensure it delivers for UK audiences, which includes showing restraint on salaries for senior staff."